Lagos State Government hands over management of Glover Memorial Hall to Lufodo Group

The Lagos State Government has handed over the management of Glover Memorial Hall to Lufodo Group, following a competitive bidding process for the concession.

The handover was conducted by Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Princess Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, and the Director of Theatre. Lufodo manages the Hall in partnership with Ciuci Consulting, an operations management firm.

A board was established for the venue chaired by Gbenga Oyebode, with Chief (Mrs) Taiwo Taiwo, Joke Silva, Dr Tony Rapu, Soji Jacobs, Mrs Ifeoma Monye and Dr (Mrs) Amina Abubakar Bello as members.

Built in 1887 and named in honour of Sir John Hawley Glover, administrator of the Lagos Colony between 1864 and 1872, the Hall hosted the first public screening of a film in Nigeria in 1903, at the invitation of Herbert Macaulay. It was also the venue for the launch of the National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons and the Lagos branch of the Action Group, and for community meetings, elections and arbitration. Notable theatre artists including Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and Hubert Ogunde premiered productions there.

The building fell into disuse for many years before renovation was begun under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and completed under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.