A Special Committee set up by the Edo State Government to investigate the ownership, funding and status of the Museum of West African Art, MOWAA, has recommended that the facility be renamed the Benin Royal Museum of African Art and returned to the Oba of Benin for management.

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

Presenting the report, Oshiomhole said the Edo State Government under former Governor Godwin Obaseki committed a total of N3.8 billion in public funds to the museum project.

He said the project was initially conceived as the Benin Royal Museum, following sustained efforts by the Oba of Benin for the return of Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British invasion.

According to him, the Obaseki administration initially agreed to fund the construction of the Royal Museum on land provided by the Oba of Benin, but subsequently changed the name of the project 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 individuals.

He listed among the contributions a four-million-euro donation from the German government and $1.5 million from the Leventis Foundation.

The former governor further alleged that five days before the expiration of the Obaseki administration, the state government approved and released an additional N1 billion, bringing its total expenditure on the project to N3.8 billion.

Oshiomhole said the committee also investigated claims by the 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.

The committee therefore recommended that the existing facility should not be demolished but retained and properly remodelled, with a name that reflects its ownership and historical significance.

It recommended that the facility be renamed the Benin Royal Museum of African Art, noting that the state government could use the appropriate instrument of government to effect the change.

The committee also recommended that the museum be returned to the Oba of Benin for management, arguing that the traditional institution would provide continuity and better protection for the artefacts beyond changes in political administration.

Receiving the report, Governor Okpebholo commended the committee for what he described as an excellent and comprehensive job.

He said the quality of the report demonstrated the fairness and seriousness with which the committee approached its assignment.

The governor disclosed that he would constitute another committee to prepare a white paper on the report, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, to enable the recommendations to be formally considered and implemented.

Okpebholo recalled seeing a video in which former Governor Obaseki had promised to build a Royal Museum in honour of the Oba of Benin, but later changed the project to MOWAA.

He commended Oshiomhole and members of the committee, saying, “You have done a great job and our ancestors will bless you all.”

Those present at the presentation included 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.