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The Nigerian arts and theatre community came alive recently as the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) conferred its highest honour, the Fellow of Theatre Profession (FTP) award, on a select group of distinguished individuals. The prestigious recognition celebrates their outstanding contributions to the advancement of theatre, cultural storytelling, and the creative industries in Nigeria.
The award ceremony took place on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, and attracted luminaries from Nigeria’s cultural, theatrical, and film sectors. Notable attendees included Tola Akerele, General Manager of the National Theatre; culture activist and CORA programme chairman Jahman Anikulapo; Chairman of the Body of Fellows of NANTAP, Prof. Duro Oni; Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTAP and of the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS); and veteran actor Norbert Young, among others.
Prominent honourees present to receive their awards included Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB); celebrated actress Joke Silva Jacobs; Olarotimi Ojo, Sam Uche-Anyamele, and Bolanle Austen-Peters. Others, such as Onyinyechi Joy Nduka, were ably represented in absentia.
Onyinyechi Joy Nduka, a renowned cultural advocate and strategist, was honoured as one of the 2025 recipients. Though unable to attend the ceremony due to international commitments, her profound impact on arts advocacy, cultural development, and talent nurturing was recognized and applauded by NANTAP.
These individuals were honoured for their transformative contributions to Nigeria’s creative and performing arts sectors. Their work continues to inspire, shape, and elevate the nation’s cultural heritage.
Established in 1994, the Fellow of Theatre Profession (FTP) award remains NANTAP’s most prestigious recognition. It is awarded to individuals who have significantly influenced Nigeria’s theatre and cultural landscape through policy, performance, scholarship, and innovation.
Past honourees include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (2024), who was recognized for his unwavering support of the creative economy, alongside former Ekiti State First Lady Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Adedayo Thomas, and Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Shaibu Husseini emphasized the vital role of the arts in national development and pledged continued support for nurturing a regulatory environment that fosters artistic freedom and industry growth. Other recipients echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the power of theatre in driving social change, storytelling, and youth engagement.
The 2025 FTP award ceremony not only reaffirmed the relevance of theatre in shaping Nigerian identity but also celebrated the enduring legacies of those who continue to elevate the nation’s cultural narrative.
