President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-level Presidential Committee to resolve ongoing issues surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State, and to create a sustainable framework for preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

The initiative, announced on Tuesday, reflects the administration’s renewed commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s artefacts and historical identity through constructive dialogue and collaboration between local and international 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 Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

Who’s on the MOWAA Presidential Committee

The committee brings together a diverse mix of stakeholders and experts, including:

• The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry

• A representative of the Presidency

• The Director of International Cultural Relations

• The Special Assistant to the President on Creativity

• The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)

• A representative of the Palace of the Oba of Benin

• A representative of the Edo State Government

• Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the German and French Embassies

• The Senator representing Edo South

• Representatives from both the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and MOWAA, along with the ministry’s Legal Adviser

Mandate of the Committee

The Presidential Committee is tasked with conducting in-depth consultations, engaging all key stakeholders, and undertaking a fact-finding mission on issues surrounding the operations and ownership of MOWAA.

It will also develop actionable recommendations that protect Nigeria’s sovereign cultural interests while maintaining positive international partnerships, especially with nations involved in the return of Benin artefacts and other heritage items.

Minister Musawa Speaks on Tinubu’s Cultural Vision

Speaking on the committee’s formation, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the move as a demonstration of the President’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s cultural assets through lawful and inclusive processes.

“Our cultural institutions are the backbone of our identity. They must be preserved in ways that respect both our traditional custodians and modern structures,” she stated.

The Minister added that the federal government is determined to ensure that MOWAA and similar heritage institutions operate transparently, collaboratively, and in alignment with Nigeria’s constitutional principles.

Commitment to Heritage and Unity

The committee’s findings will be submitted directly to President Tinubu for prompt action, aimed at achieving sustainable and peaceful solutions in the nation’s cultural sector.

The federal government reiterated that while the Constitution guarantees freedom and creativity, those freedoms must be exercised with responsibility and respect for national values.

Nigeria’s cultural spaces, monuments, and artefacts represent the country’s shared history, the statement emphasized, and must be protected under moral, legal, and constitutional provisions.

All stakeholders have been urged to maintain peace and support the committee’s work as it carries out this crucial national assignment.