The Special Committee on the Museum of West African Art on Thursday submitted its report to the Edo State Government, noting that the state invested N3.8bn in the project.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

The committee, headed by a former governor of Edo State and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was given the mandate to verify the ownership status of MOWAA.

In the report, Oshiomhole noted that the Edo State Government under the administration of Godwin Obaseki spent a total of N3.8bn of taxpayers’ money on the MOWAA project, changing the name of the museum several times for personal reasons.

In a statement on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the committee chairman said the sustained efforts and campaign by the Oba of Benin for the return of the stolen Benin artefacts led to an agreement to return the artefacts, noting that it opened discussions on building a Royal Museum to house them.

📌 Key Details

He added, “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 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).”

He noted that N800m in seed money was raised by the Edo State Government and donations continued to trickle in.

“The German government donated four million euros, Leventis $1.5m and more.

“Five days before the expiration of the Obaseki-led administration, the governor approved and released N1bn. This brought the payment of the Edo State Government to N3.8bn,” he added.

Oshiomhole said the several changes of name made it a completely private enterprise, as MOWAA management agreed to have received over $18m, which they claimed had been used in acquiring land and engaging in archaeological excavation.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria