As the crisis over the ownership of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) rages on, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annette Günther, and the Edo State Government met with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as part of a peace mission to resolve the crisis.
DAILY POST reports that youths had, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, during the preview ceremony of the museum, invaded the premises and allegedly attacked staff of MOWAA, partners, and visitors.
It is recalled that youths in Benin City had last Wednesday also protested against the planned commissioning of the facility, earlier scheduled to hold on November 11, 2025.
Following the attack and disruption of the preview ceremony on Sunday, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, and the Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, paid a visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin as part of a peaceful move to resolve the crisis.
Speaking at the meeting, the Benin monarch expressed surprise at how former Governor Godwin Obaseki allegedly changed the initial name of the museum from the Benin Royal Museum to Edo Museum of West African Art and finally to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
Oba Ewuare II said there was a gazette to that effect.
The monarch said the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, had informed him that he played the video before the European delegation and the German Ambassador, where former Governor Obaseki promised to build the Benin Royal Museum.
He alleged that the former governor deceived donor agencies and Germany to collect money to build the museum.
He also alleged that Obaseki was angry with him because he refused to sign documents that would mortgage the rights of the palace and the Benin people to their ancestral artifacts.
“It is like history wanting to repeat itself. My forefathers suffered during the British invasion of 1897, and it is not fair that this is happening again. The documents they brought for me to sign would have taken away our rights to these artifacts, and I refused.
“My father and I. Please. I think maybe they will give you the speech I delivered in the governor’s office. Everything is also there to study. You will know the other from the video. It’s clear that Governor Obaseki came over there. They collected money from national donors, from the Germans, to build the Benin Royal Museum. Why change the name? Change to a different name. Just a different name and different structures,” he said.
He, however, urged the foreign visitors to cooperate with the Government of Edo State to resolve the crisis, stating that the governor had set up a committee to investigate the operations and governance structure of the museum.
According to him, “I want to tell you that Governor Okpebholo is already looking into the issue, and I want to appeal to you to cooperate with the government and also allow it to do the job.”
The Oba, however, described Sunday’s protest as unfortunate and regrettable.
In an interview, Gautier Mignot, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the visit was to engage more and strengthen partnership and cooperation with the state government and the Benin Palace.
Mignot said, though the European Union is not involved in the MOWAA project, some member states, particularly Germany, are involved.
“And we also touched upon the issue of the Museum of West African Arts project, where we were yesterday, some of us.
“And you know that some unfortunate incidents occurred then. And so we wanted very much to have His Royal Majesty’s views on this, and he shared them with us.
“And I think we all exchanged in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, which is the spirit in which we want to take this matter further and all other matters,” he added.
On her part, Annette Günther, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, said her country exchanged views on several areas of cooperation with Edo State.
Günther said as part of the cooperation, Germany had returned 1,200 Benin bronzes to the Nigerian government.
She also listed other areas of cooperation with Edo State to include the construction of skills development centres, centres for migration development, as well as the training of 450 young Edo youths on Information Technology courses and cultural cooperation.
She said the graduation ceremony for the 450 youths would be held soon in the state.
“So we’re very proud of that move of our government. A number of those bronzes have already been returned, and they are here in Benin City with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, but more are to come.
“And that’s why we are very much looking forward to continuing our cooperation with NCMM, with the state government, and also with the palace and His Royal Majesty, the Oba, on the further return of all those bronzes.
On MOWAA, Günther said Germany was very proud to be part of and sponsor the museum, noting that it is not only a museum but also a campus, a centre for cherishing Nigerian and Benin heritage and culture.
She explained that the project was also meant to make the heritage, culture, old and contemporary, available to the people of Benin City and to many foreign visitors.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria added that the facility would be an enormous attraction for tourism, industry, investors, researchers, and architects.
While regretting the incident on Sunday, she opined that “this wonderful place of cherishing heritage and culture can only exist and flourish if there is a peaceful environment.
“But we are looking forward to a peaceful future for EMOWAA and to normal operations of MOWAA, and I will hopefully be seeing it also. I was not there yesterday morning, but we are very happy to be here. There are many things that Germany, Nigeria, and the people of Edo State can be proud of together and can celebrate together,” she said.
In his remarks, the state governor said a committee has been set up to investigate all the issues surrounding the museum.
Okpebholo assured that the reports of the committee would be fair to all parties.
