Davidson Ogbebor

The Special Committee on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), chaired by former Edo State Governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has submitted its report on the ownership, funding and status of the museum project to Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The report, which was made available to journalists by the Edo State Government through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, on Thursday, recommended that the existing museum facility should be retained and renamed the Benin Royal Museum of African Art.

Presenting the committee’s findings, Oshiomhole said the Edo State Government under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki spent a total of N3.8 billion in public funds on the project.

He said the project was initially conceived as a Royal Museum to accommodate Benin artefacts expected to be returned following sustained efforts by the Oba of Benin and other stakeholders for the repatriation of artefacts taken from the Kingdom.

According to Oshiomhole, the Obaseki administration initially agreed to provide funding for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum on land made available by the Oba of Benin.

He, however, said the project subsequently underwent several changes, including the demolition of the Central Hospital and changes to its original name, first to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWA) and later to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

Oshiomhole said the state government initially provided N800 million as seed funding, while additional donations were received from development partners and private organisations.

He said the German government donated €4 million, while the Leventis Foundation contributed $1.5 million, among other donations.

The former governor further stated that five days before the expiration of the Obaseki administration, another N1 billion was approved and released, bringing the total contribution by the Edo State Government to N3.8 billion.

Oshiomhole said the committee also investigated claims by the MOWAA management that it had received more than $18 million, which was allegedly used for land acquisition and archaeological excavation.

He said the committee’s investigation did not substantiate the claims.

The committee consequently recommended that the existing facility should not be demolished, but retained and given a name that properly reflects its ownership and purpose.

It also recommended that the facility be renamed the Benin Royal Museum of African Art and returned to the Oba of Benin for management.

Oshiomhole argued that governments come and go, while the Benin monarchy remains a permanent institution capable of safeguarding the cultural heritage and artefacts of the kingdom.

He added that placing the museum under the management of the Benin traditional institution could help attract additional Benin artefacts from around the world.

Receiving the report, Governor Okpebholo commended the committee for what he described as a comprehensive and thorough investigation.

The governor said the quality of the report demonstrated the committee’s fairness and seriousness in examining the issues surrounding the museum.

Okpebholo disclosed that he would constitute another committee to facilitate the preparation of a White Paper on the report, adding that the committee would liaise with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the recommendations were properly translated into government policy.

The governor also recalled a video in which former Governor Obaseki reportedly promised to build a Royal Museum in honour of the Oba of Benin before the project was subsequently changed to MOWAA.

The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru; and other senior government officials were present during the presentation of the report.