BENIN CITY — Recent investigative findings to verify the position of the right of ownership status of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) have highlighted how the sustained global campaign and moral authority of Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin have successfully catalyzed international goodwill, drawing significant foreign financial contributions toward the Museum.
The Special Committee on the Museum for West African Art, chaired by former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Audit Report submitted its comprehensive ownership and funding status report said on Thursday, August 20.
The findings illuminate how the Monarch’s historic diplomatic efforts for the restitution of stolen royal artefacts laid the groundwork for international donor confidence, according to a statement issued by Dr Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The committee’s investigation confirmed that the Oba’s advocacy inspired substantial global backing, including a 4 million euro grant from the German government and a $1.5 million contribution from the Leventis foundation.
Government.
The report documented a total expenditure of N3.8 billion by the Edo State government under the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki, which included an initial N800 million seed fund and a late approval of N1 billion toward project development in Benin.
The committee raised concerns regarding subsequent alterations to the project’s original framework and designation—transitioning from the proposed Benin Royal Museum to MOWAA—which critics argue distanced the institution from its foundational royal heritage.
To properly honour the cultural legacy of the kingdom and restore public trust, the committee proffered key structural recommendations:
Official Renaming: Revert the facility’s official designation to the Benin Royal Museum of African Art via executive instrument to accurately reflect its historical lineage and cultural resonance.
Transfer the management of the museum directly to the Oba of Benin, ensuring that the sacred artefacts are permanently safeguarded by the traditional institution that holds their ancestral ownership.
Reacting, Governor Okpebholo while receiving the report on behalf of the State government, commended the panel for its thoroughness and announced that a dedicated review committee would be established to translate the recommendations into a formal government white paper.
