LASU VC Calls for Technology Integration in Theatre Arts

The Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has emphasized the urgent need to integrate technology into the teaching and practice of theatre arts in Nigeria, warning that the future of the discipline depends on adapting to digital innovations.

She made the call at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA), hosted for the first time in almost four decades at LASU, Ojo, under the theme “Technology, Intercultural Dialogue and the Future of the Performing Arts.”

Prof. Olatunji-Bello described the theme as “timely and thought-provoking,” noting that it challenges artists and scholars to rethink how technology shapes performance, intercultural dialogue, and the preservation of culture. She added that LASU’s establishment of the School of Creativity, Culture and Tourism Studies in 2023 reflects the university’s strong commitment to the creative industry.

“The performing arts are not just a means of entertainment. They are instruments of education, empowerment and transformation,” she said.

Technology as the New Driver of Theatre Practice

In his remarks, outgoing SONTA President, Prof. Gowon Doki, stressed that technology—especially Artificial Intelligence (AI)—has become central to the survival of theatre practice.

“Technology today is no longer a side chick but the main wife. If we are to remain relevant in this fast-changing world, we must reconcile theatre practice with the principles of AI,” he said.

Doki urged theatre practitioners to embrace innovation, warning that those who fail to adapt risk becoming obsolete. He also challenged artists to use their craft to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including poverty, insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and the erosion of cultural values.

SONTA’s Milestones and New Leadership

Reflecting on his tenure since 2021, Prof. Doki highlighted achievements such as transforming the Nigerian Theatre Journal into a globally recognized publication and expanding SONTA’s membership base.

The conference elected Prof. Tunji Azeez, Acting Dean of LASU’s School of Creativity, Culture and Tourism, as the new SONTA President, alongside other executive members including Prof. Adediran Ademiju-Bepo, Prof. Osakue Omoera, Prof. Tochukwu Okeke, and Dr. Tosin Tume.

Conference Highlights

• Over 200 academic papers were presented.

• Scholars offered insights on how technology, theatre, and culture can drive national development.

• Participants reaffirmed the role of theatre artists as agents of social change, cultural preservation, and national transformation.

✨ The LASU-hosted SONTA 2025 conference reinforced the message that the future of theatre arts in Nigeria lies in technology-driven creativity, intercultural collaboration, and purposeful engagement with societal issues.