Oshiomhole-led committee hands over Edo museum project to Oba of Benin
Edo Committee Recommends Return of Museum Project to Oba of Benin
A special committee investigating the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has recommended transferring management of the project back to the Oba of Benin. The committee, led by former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, presented its findings on August 20, 2026, to current Governor Monday Okpebholo in Benin City.
Governor Okpebholo established the six-member committee on November 8, 2025, with the mandate to assess the operations, ownership, and governance of the museum initiative. Committee members included prominent figures such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen, retired General Cecil Esekhaigbe, Professor Roland Otaru, Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Barrister Iryn Omorogiuwa, who acted as secretary.
In presenting the report, Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of returning the project to the Oba, stating that while political administrations are temporary, the monarchy is a longstanding institution. He expressed confidence that the Benin monarchy would ensure the preservation and proper management of the cultural heritage represented by the museum.
Oshiomhole also advocated for retaining the existing museum facility and suggested renaming it to reflect its ownership. He proposed the name “Benin Royal Museum of African Art,” arguing that this change could enhance the museum’s attractiveness for global artifacts.
During his remarks, Oshiomhole criticized the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki for spending N3.8 billion on the project, alleging that the proposed name for the museum was changed multiple times. He noted that the Oba’s advocacy for the return of stolen Benin artifacts has sparked renewed discussions about establishing a royal museum to safeguard these items.
The committee’s report highlighted that the Obaseki administration had initially agreed to fund the construction of the museum on land provided by the Oba but later altered the project’s direction. It included the significant demolition of the Central Hospital site, leading to changes in the museum’s name from the proposed Benin Royal Museum to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWA) and finally to MOWAA.
Oshiomhole disclosed that the Edo State Government allocated N800 million in initial funding for the project, with further contributions from various sources, including a donation of four million euros from the German government and $1.5 million from the Leventis Foundation. He also indicated that an additional N1 billion was approved shortly before the completion of the Obaseki administration, bringing the total expenditure to N3.8 billion.
The former governor questioned claims made by MOWAA management regarding over $18 million spent on land acquisition and archaeological excavation, asserting that those statements were inconsistent with the committee’s findings.
In response, Governor Okpebholo commended the committee for its thorough investigation, noting that the quality of the report reflected a commitment to fairness and due process. He announced plans to establish another committee to draft a white paper on the recommendations, which will be coordinated with the Ministry of Justice.
Okpebholo recalled a statement from former Governor Obaseki, who had previously expressed intentions to establish a royal museum in honor of the Oba of Benin before the project’s transformation into MOWAA.
“You have done a great job, and our ancestors will bless you all,” he concluded.
