Many residents of Lagos State on Saturday thronged the National Theatre in Lagos in celebration of Nigeria’s 56th Independence anniversary, in spite of the economic recession in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attractions were mostly the Nigerian movies watched by the picknickers.
The picknickers, mostly school children, told NAN that the essence of the visit was to interact.
The children were accompanied by their parents and guardians.
An indigene of Rivers, who came with his family of four, Mr Solomon Nyovele said that as a child, he experienced colourful independence anniversary in the early 80s.
`I look forward to a replica of such in my children with nostalgia. It is a sort of bequeathing a patriotic legacy.
“Though the economy is in bad shape, that will not deter one from being a father to his kids,’’ Nyovele said.
He said that though, the state made a pronouncement of a low-key independence anniversary celebration; probably because of the state of the nation.
According to him, the family unit should be seen as one that shapes the attitude of the children, who will take over the leadership of the society in future.
A civil servant, Mr Jeese Ifom, said, “I am here to celebrate the anniversary with my kids as my social obligation to them’’.
“The President’s anniversary speech is reassuring.
“What is remaining is for the government to hasten up and think out of the box to revive the economy,’’ Ifom said.
A 41-year-old woman, Mrs Edith Johnson, who was at the National Theatre with her seven-year old son, said that the holiday served as a period to relax from the daily hassles of Lagos to eke a living.
“The last time we watched a drama on stage was three years ago at the LTV compound. So, this is another opportunity for such a treat,’’ a make-up stylist, Johnson said.
Two children of Mr Obinna Njoku of Christian-Way Primary School Fadeyi, described their visit to the National Theatre as a retreat, adding that they had been looking forward to it.
“It is the day that daddy always buy plenty ice cream for us,’’ a Basic 5 pupil, Kele Njoku said. (NAN)