By Adegbaju Temitope
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constituted a high-level Presidential Committee to address emerging issues surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State, as part of efforts to protect Nigeria’s cultural heritage and ensure peaceful resolution of related matters.
The directive, which followed recent developments involving the museum and ongoing debates about ownership, management, and repatriation of cultural artefacts, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural patrimony while promoting dialogue and mutual respect among all stakeholders.
According to a statement issued by Chindaya Ahmadu, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the committee will be chaired by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Its composition reflects what the Presidency described as the complex historical, cultural, and diplomatic dimensions of the MOWAA matter.
Members of the Presidential Committee include representatives from the Presidency, the Edo State Government, the Palace of the Oba of Benin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the German and French embassies, and the National Council for Arts and Culture.
Others are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the Director of International Cultural Relations, the Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, the Senator representing Edo South, and the Legal Adviser of the ministry.
The committee has been mandated to conduct extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, undertake a thorough fact-finding mission on all pertinent issues, and make actionable recommendations that balance Nigeria’s sovereign cultural interests with international partnerships and diplomatic considerations.
Speaking on the development, Musawa said the Presidential intervention was a testament to President Tinubu’s dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through peaceful and lawful means.
She stressed that cultural institutions are central to the nation’s identity and must be protected through cooperation between traditional custodians and modern institutions.
“This Presidential intervention demonstrates our unwavering dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage within an established legal framework. Cultural institutions are pillars of our national identity and must be protected through collaborative approaches that reflect both traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures,” the minister stated.
The statement further noted that the committee’s findings and recommendations will be submitted directly to President Tinubu for prompt implementation to ensure sustainable solutions that preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.
It reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that while the Constitution guarantees certain freedoms, such rights come with corresponding responsibilities, particularly in safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural spaces and artefacts, which represent the shared inheritance of all Nigerians.
The government called on all parties involved to maintain peace and cooperate fully with the Presidential Committee as it carries out its mandate in the national interest.
