BENIN-CITY: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established a Presidential Committee to address emerging issues surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State, and to create a lasting framework for safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
According to a statement signed by Chindaya Ahmadu, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the move reflects the administration’s commitment to protecting the country’s cultural assets through dialogue, respect, and adherence to constitutional principles.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, and includes representatives from national, state, and international bodies.
Members of the committee include the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, a representative of the Presidency, Director of International Cultural Relations, Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, and representatives of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Edo State Government, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the German and French embassies.
Also included are representatives from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), alongside the ministry’s Legal Adviser and the Senator representing Edo South.
The committee’s mandate is to conduct broad consultations with relevant stakeholders, undertake fact-finding on the controversies surrounding MOWAA, and submit policy recommendations that safeguard Nigeria’s cultural sovereignty while maintaining constructive international partnerships.
Speaking on the development, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa said the committee’s formation underscores President Tinubu’s determination to protect the nation’s cultural identity through lawful, collaborative approaches.
Cultural institutions are pillars of our national identity and must be protected through approaches that respect both traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures,” she said.
The minister added that the committee will submit its findings and recommendations directly to President Tinubu for swift implementation to ensure sustainable management of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.
The federal government emphasized that while the Constitution upholds freedom of expression, it also demands responsible use of such rights, especially regarding matters of national heritage.
It reiterated that Nigeria’s cultural spaces and artefacts are part of the nation’s shared inheritance and deserve special protection under both moral and legal frameworks.
The statement urged all stakeholders to maintain peace and fully cooperate with the committee as it undertakes its assignment to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
