EU delegation, German Ambassador, Gov Okpebholo meet Oba of Benin over MOWAA crisis

Because the disaster 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 Notify Authorities met with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as allotment of a peace mission to obtain to the bottom of the disaster.

DAILY POST experiences that youths had, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at some stage within the preview ceremony of the museum, invaded the premises and allegedly attacked workers of MOWAA, partners, and friends.

It is miles recalled that youths in Benin City had final Wednesday also protested in opposition to the planned commissioning of the skill, earlier scheduled to retain on November 11, 2025.

Following the assault and disruption of the preview ceremony on Sunday, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, and the Edo Notify Authorities, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, paid a talk to to the palace of the Oba of Benin as allotment of a mild transfer to obtain to the bottom of the disaster.

Speaking on the assembly, the Benin monarch expressed shock at how aged Governor Godwin Obaseki allegedly modified the preliminary title 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 mentioned there used to be a gazette to that accomplish.

The monarch mentioned the assert governor, Monday Okpebholo, had told him that he played the video earlier than the European delegation and the German Ambassador, the put aged Governor Obaseki promised to device the Benin Royal Museum.

He alleged that the aged governor deceived donor companies and Germany to build up money to device the museum.

He also alleged that Obaseki used to be offended with him because he refused to stamp paperwork that can mortgage the rights of the palace and the Benin other folks to their ancestral artifacts.

“It is miles like history eager to repeat itself. My forefathers suffered at some stage within the British invasion of 1897, and it is now not honest that right here’s going on all yet again. The paperwork they introduced for me to stamp would hold taken away our rights to these artifacts, and I refused.

“My father and I. Please. I judge per chance they presents you the speech I delivered within the governor’s office. Every thing is also there to envision. You are going to know the change from the video. It’s clear that Governor Obaseki came over there. They composed money from national donors, from the Germans, to device the Benin Royal Museum. Why change the title? Alternate to a definite title. Lawful a definite title and a ramification of structures,” he mentioned.

He, nonetheless, entreated the foreign friends to cooperate with the Authorities of Edo Notify to obtain to the bottom of the disaster, declaring that the governor had situation up a committee to analysis the operations and governance construction of the museum.

In step with him, “I’d like to declare you that Governor Okpebholo is already having a see into the inform, and I’d like to entice you to cooperate with the authorities and moreover allow it to realize the job.”

The Oba, nonetheless, described Sunday’s issue as downhearted and regrettable.

In an interview, Gautier Mignot, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, mentioned the talk to used to be to interact extra and toughen partnership and cooperation with the assert authorities and the Benin Palace.

Mignot mentioned, though the European Union is now not taking into consideration about the MOWAA project, some member states, critically Germany, are enthusiastic.

“And we also touched upon the inform of the Museum of West African Arts project, the put we hold been the day earlier than on the present time, about a of us.

“And that some downhearted incidents took place then. And so we wanted very worthy to hold His Royal Majesty’s views on this, and he shared them with us.

“And I judge all of us exchanged in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, which is the spirit wherein we want to steal this subject further and all other issues,” he added.

On her allotment, Annette Günther, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, mentioned her nation exchanged views on several areas of cooperation with Edo Notify.

Günther mentioned as allotment of the cooperation, Germany had returned 1,200 Benin bronzes to the Nigerian authorities.

She also listed other areas of cooperation with Edo Notify to consist of the construction of talents construction centres, centres for migration construction, as wisely as the coaching of 450 young Edo youths on Knowledge Technology classes and cultural cooperation.

She mentioned the commencement ceremony for the 450 youths could be held soon within the assert.

“So we’re very delighted with that transfer of our authorities. A resolution of these bronzes hold already been returned, they usually’re right here in Benin City with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, but extra are to come.

“And that’s why we’re very worthy having a see forward to persevering with our cooperation with NCMM, with the assert authorities, and moreover with the palace and His Royal Majesty, the Oba, on the further return of all these bronzes.

On MOWAA, Günther mentioned Germany used to be very proud to be allotment of and sponsor the museum, noting that it is now not handiest a museum but additionally a campus, a centre for cherishing Nigerian and Benin heritage and tradition.

She explained that the project used to be also supposed to develop the heritage, tradition, dilapidated and contemporary, accessible to the opposite folks of Benin City and to many foreign friends.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria added that the skill could be an endless appeal for tourism, industry, traders, researchers, and architects.

While regretting the incident on Sunday, she opined that “this unbelievable put of cherishing heritage and tradition can handiest exist and flourish if there is a mild atmosphere.

“However we’re having a see forward to a mild future for EMOWAA and to commonplace operations of MOWAA, and I will hopefully be seeing it also. I was now not there the day earlier than on the present time morning, but we’re very delighted to be right here. There are many issues that Germany, Nigeria, and the opposite folks of Edo Notify could well also be at liberty with together and can celebrate together,” she mentioned.

In his remarks, the assert governor mentioned a committee has been situation as a lot as analysis your total points surrounding the museum.

Okpebholo assured that the experiences of the committee could be honest to all events.