The University of Jos recently took centre stage in Nigeria’s theatre scene as it hosted the 2025 National Theatre Play Reading Series, an annual programme designed to promote and document Nigerian plays while discovering new writing talent.

This year’s featured work was “The Chief Mourner” by Dr. Iheanacho Iweha—a thought-provoking play that explores the Igbo burial custom of returning married women to their fathers’ homes for burial, and how the rise of social media has changed the way news is shared, sometimes with painful consequences for grieving families.

The event, held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Indoor Theatre, was anchored by Dr. Victor Anyagu and attended by Mr. Henry Nduibusi, who represented the General Manager/CEO of the National Theatre, Mrs. Adetola Akerele. In his remarks, Mr. Nduibusi explained that the play reading series allows the National Theatre to connect with different parts of the country, acting as a unifying force for Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.

Unlike a traditional play performance, the Play Reading Series features students bringing characters to life on stage while reading directly from the script—an approach that focuses on storytelling, dialogue, and performance skills.

Over the years, the programme has travelled to different universities, with previous editions held at Nasarawa State University, Lafia (2022) and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The maiden edition featured Justice to the Swine by Dr. Yomi Adegbamigbe.