.Recommends Benin monarch takes ownership
Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin
The committee set up by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to probe the funding and ownership status of the Museum for West Africa Art (MOWAA) has indicted the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Okpebholo had constituted the probe committee in November 2025, to look into the funding of the museum following controversies surrounding its establishment by the Obaseki’s regime.
In the report submitted by the Chairman, Special Committee and former governor of Edo State Comrade, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki’s administration allegedly spent a total of N3.8 billion on the project.
The Chief Press Secretary to governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, in a statement noted the report indicated that the name of the museum was changed severally for personal reasons.
Recalling the genesis of the returned artifacts, the committee chairman said the sustained efforts and campaign of the Oba of Benin led to the agreement to return the artifacts, noting that it opened the discussion of building a Royal Museum to house them.
“The Edo State government under Obaseki agreed to provide the funding to build the Benin Royal Museum at the space provided by the Oba of Benin. It was well announced to the delight of all Edo people.
“The Obaseki’s administration took different steps, demolished Central Hospital and decided to change the original name of the museum to Edo Museum of West Africa Art (EMOWA) and later to the Museum for West Africa Art (MOWAA).”
Oshiomhole said the several changes of name makes it a completely private enterprise as MOWAA management agreed to have received over $18 million dollars which they claimed to have been used in acquiring land and engaging in archaeological excavation. He noted that N800 million seed money was raised by the Edo State government and through donations.
According to the report, “The German government donated four million Euros, Leventis $1.5 million Dollars and more.
“Five days before the expiration of the Obaseki led administration, the governor approved and released N1 billion. This brought the payment of the Edo State government to N3.8 billion.”
In its recommendation, the report stated: “The facility should not be demolished because it can’t be remodelled, the museum should be allowed to stay and the facility given a proper name that will reflect the true ownership.
“The name, be changed to Benin Royal Museum of Africa Art. The governor can use the same instrument of government to revert the name. This will attract artifacts from across the globe.
“The museum should be returned to the Oba of Benin to manage it henceforth, as the government comes and goes but the Benin Monarch remains and the artifacts can be protected better by the institutions that own it,” the report concluded.
While receiving the report, the governor said, “I thank the committee for an excellent job and the comprehensive report submitted today. The quality of the job shows the fairness and seriousness of the job.
“At this point I will set up another committee to enable us to have a white paper on the issue and the committee will liaise with the Ministry of Justice so that the recommendation will be turned into a white paper.
“I watched in a video clip where Obaseki promised to build a Royal Museum to celebrate our royal father but dramatically changed to MOWAA. You have done a great job and our ancestors will bless you all.”