Assessment of the Contribution of University Theatre Departments to National Cultural Policy in Nigeria

University theatre departments are knowledge production and cultural practice centres whose contribution to national cultural policy is rarely systematically evaluated, and examining their advisory and policy engagement roles provides evidence for reforming the arts-policy interface. This study assessed the contribution of university theatre departments to national cultural policy in Nigeria, focusing on departments in Lagos, Enugu, Zaria, and Jos as case representatives of the South West, South East, North West, and North Central zones. A qualitative design employed semi-structured interviews with 16 heads of department and senior faculty, documentary review of NCAC cultural policy documents, and analysis of 20 departmental annual reports. Results showed that only 2 of 4 departments had formal communication channels with NCAC. Policy advocacy by theatre departments was informal and primarily individual, rather than institutional. Research outputs from theatre departments cited in national cultural policy documents were identified in only 3 instances across 10 years of NCAC publications reviewed. Departmental involvement in national arts festivals was moderate but not linked to formal policy advisory roles. The study concludes that university theatre departments are significantly underutilised in national cultural policy processes. Recommendations include establishing formal NCAC-university theatre department consultation mechanisms, commissioning departmental research for policy evidence bases, and creating faculty exchange programmes between academic drama and arts administration institutions.

Keywords: university theatre, cultural policy, NCAC, arts policy, Nigeria