The Special Committee on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), chaired by former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has submitted its report on the ownership and funding status of the controversial museum project.
Presenting the report to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Thursday, Oshiomhole said the committee established that the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki spent N3.8 billion in public funds on the project.
Oshiomhole said the project was initially conceived as the Benin Royal Museum to house the Benin artefacts expected to be returned to the ancient kingdom following sustained campaigns by the Oba of Benin for their repatriation.
According to him, the Obaseki administration subsequently altered the original concept and changed the name of the project, first to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWA) and later to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
He said the state government initially provided N800 million as seed funding, while other donations included four million euros from the German government and $1.5 million from the Leventis Foundation, among others.
The former governor added that five days before the expiration of the Obaseki administration, an additional N1 billion was approved and released, bringing the total expenditure by the Edo State Government to N3.8 billion.
Oshiomhole further disclosed that the committee investigated claims by MOWAA management that it had received more than $18 million, allegedly spent on land acquisition and archaeological excavation.
He said the committee found the claims to be false and recommended that the existing facility should not be demolished, but should instead be retained and given a name reflecting its ownership and original purpose.
The committee 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 while governments come and go, the Benin monarchy remains a permanent institution capable of providing long-term protection for the artefacts and ensuring that the museum serves its historical purpose.
Receiving the report, Governor Okpebholo commended the committee for what he described as an excellent and comprehensive job, noting that the report demonstrated fairness and seriousness.
The governor said his administration would constitute another committee to facilitate the preparation of a White Paper on the report, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.
Okpebholo recalled that the previous administration had initially promised to establish a Royal Museum in honour of the Oba of Benin before the project was subsequently transformed into MOWAA.
He expressed optimism that the recommendations would help resolve the controversy surrounding the museum and restore its original purpose.
The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq.; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru, and other senior government officials attended the presentation.
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