By Ben Ogbemudia
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II has appointed Prof Wole Soyinka a member of the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum.
Other members of the board are Aghatise Erediauwa, Nduka Obaigbena, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru amongst others.
Oba Ewuare II, disclosed this during the signing of a memorandum of understanding, MOU, on the return of looted Benin artefacts from the United Kingdom, UK, on Monday in his palace. The MOU was signed by the Benin Royal Palace led by the Oba and the UK government representatives.
Two of the works, a cockerel known as okpa in Benin language and Uhunwun Elao will be formally handed over to the Oba of Benin at a later date, even as His Royal Majesty announced that the returned artefacts would be kept in the Benin Royal Museum and be opened to the public including researchers and scientists so as to safeguard the artworks and others expected to be returned in future.
He said, “As our treasures are returned, our youths will be able to establish a new relationship with the heritage bequeathed by their forefathers. The return of all the treasures taken away will begin a new era of Benin history and civilization. International best practice and the rule of law dictate that restitution and compensation is the new discourse.”
“We ask that friendly countries seeking to return our artefacts should do so directly to the Oba of Benin or to the Federal Government of Nigeria who will hold them in trust and return the same to the Palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom as was recently done in Cambridge and Aberdeen.” He stated.
Oba Ewuare II further commended the role played by the Federal Government in the return of the artefacts, he said Benin art and culture reflect the past and present glory as well as the splendour of the kingdom.
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In his address, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, said the ceremony was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s commitment that all stolen artefacts should be returned to Nigeria and sent to their original owners.
He said: “The present administration places much emphasis on the return of Nigerian artefacts to their original home hence the painstaking efforts of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, along with the tireless commitment of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to attain this presidential directive and mandate.”
The event attracted personalities from all walks of life including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, Minister of the Niger Delta, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, palace chiefs, and traditional rulers from other parts of the state.
