Preparations are in top gear for the Maiden Abuja Performing Arts Summit (APAS), as the Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has appointed veteran actor and director, Distinguished Thespian Patrick Otoro, fta, of Rivers of Water Productions, and Distinguished Thespian Esther Onwuka, fta, immediate past Deputy President of the association, as Co-Chairs of the planning committee.
The summit, themed “Charting New Paths: Strengthening the Performing Arts Ecosystem in the FCT,” is scheduled to take place in September 2025 and aims to convene key players across the performance landscape—spanning theatre, dance, comedy, music, spoken word, education, and policy—in an inclusive, one-day dialogue and strategy event.
The announcement was made during NANTAP FCT’s June Congress, held at the Arts Pavilion, Area 10, Abuja, under the leadership of Chairman Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, who described the summit as “a necessary intervention for reflection, repositioning, and renewed partnerships across the arts sector in Abuja.”
Otoro and Onwuka will head a 7-member Planning Committee tasked with curating the event, engaging relevant stakeholders, and ensuring a successful delivery of what is billed as a landmark gathering for the city’s cultural ecosystem.
Other committee members include:
Sandra Adeyeye Bello – Secretary
Abdufatai Otori
Victor Nwajineka
William Obasi
Nwanyinma Okeanu
The committee is expected to develop the summit’s programme framework, coordinate artistic showcases, launch the Abuja Performing Arts Map & Directory, and produce a Stakeholders’ Resolution that will serve as a roadmap for future interventions in the performing arts sector.
In a related development, the NANTAP FCT Executive Council also unveiled the composition of its State Advisory Council, in accordance with the association’s constitutional provisions. This council is designed to provide guidance and institutional memory for the ongoing work of the state chapter.
The Advisory Council comprises five seasoned and highly respected members of the association:
Distinguished Thespian Dotun Osunsanya, fta
Distinguished Thespian Lantana Ahmed, fta
Distinguished Thespian Kayode Aiyegbusi, fta – Immediate Past Chairman, NANTAP FCT
Thespian Francis Duru – Esteemed stage and screen actor
Distinguished Thespian Esther Onwuka, fta – Immediate Past Deputy President
According to Om’Oba Adesewo, “The Advisory Council is both a resource and a compass for the present executive—a structure to support continuity, excellence, and inclusive leadership.”
With these appointments and structures in place, the NANTAP FCT Chapter is setting a bold tone for cultural leadership, advocacy, and sector-wide engagement in the FCT’s creative space.
