Rename N3.8bn MOWAA Benin Royal Museum Of African Art, Return It To Oba Of Benin – Oshiomhole Panel

by MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

The long-running controversy over the ownership and management of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the Adams Oshiomhole-led committee recommended that the facility be handed back to the Oba of Benin and renamed the Benin Royal Museum of African Art.

The special committee, chaired by former Edo State Governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, submitted its findings to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Thursday.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin City.

Presenting the report, Oshiomhole said the Edo State Government under former Governor Godwin Obaseki spent about N3.8 billion in taxpayers’ money on the project.

He said the project was initially conceived as a Royal Museum following sustained efforts by the Oba of Benin to secure the return of looted Benin artefacts from around the world.

According to Sen. Oshiomhole, the State government under the administration of Mr. Obaseki initially agreed to fund the construction of the Benin Royal Museum on land provided by the Oba but later demolished the Central Hospital site and changed the project’s name to Edo Museum of West African Art before eventually adopting MOWAA.

Sen. Oshiomhole said the state government provided N800 million as seed funding, while additional donations came from various sources, including the German government, which donated €4 million, and Leventis, which contributed $1.5 million.

“…N800 million-naira seed money was raised by the Edo State government and donations continue to be trickled in.

“The German government donated four million euros, Leventis $1.5 million dollars and more”, Sen. Oshiomhole stated.

The Committee Chairman added that five days before the end of the Obaseki administration, another N1 billion was approved and released, bringing the state government’s total expenditure on the project to N3.8 billion.

“Five days before the expiration of the Obaseki led administration, the governor approved and released N1 billion naira. This brought the payment of the Edo State government to N3.8 billion”, He said.

The committee chairman said its investigation also challenged claims by the MOWAA management that it had received more than $18 million, allegedly spent on land acquisition and archaeological excavation.

Oshiomhole recommended that the existing facility should not be demolished but retained and given a name that reflects its ownership.

“The name be changed to Benin Royal Museum of African Art. The governor can use the same instrument of government to revert the name. This will attract artefacts from across the globe”, he said.

He further recommended that the museum be returned to the Oba of Benin, arguing that while governments come and go, the Benin monarchy remains and is better positioned to protect the artefacts.

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

Governor Okpebholo said he had watched a video in which former Governor Obaseki promised to establish a Royal Museum in honour of the Benin monarch before the project was subsequently changed to MOWAA.

The governor said he would constitute another committee to prepare a White Paper on the report in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.

Governor Okpebholo said the recommendations would be subjected to the appropriate government process before implementation.

Among senior government officials who attended the presentation were Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru.