In a decisive response to recent events at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has directed the immediat formation of a high-level Presidential Committee tasked with developing a comprehensive framework for permanent resolution.
This intervention underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s cultural patrimony while ensuring that all matters are addressed through dialogue, mutual respect, and strict adherence to constitutional provisions.
The committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, brings together a distinguished assemblage of stakeholders representing critical national and international interests. Its composition reflects the President’s recognition of the complex historical, cultural, and diplomatic dimensions of this matter.
Members of the Presidential Committee include:
• Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy – Chairperson
• Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy
• Representative of the Presidency
• Director, International Cultural Relations
• Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, Prince Baba Agba
• Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture
• Representative, Palace of the Oba of Benin
• Representative, Edo State Government
• Representative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Representative, German Embassy
• Representative, French Embassy
• Senator representing Edo South, Senator Ned Imasuen
• Representative, National Commission for Museums and Monuments
• Representative, Museum of West African Art
• Legal Adviser, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy
The committee’s mandate encompasses extensive consultation, rigorous fact-finding, and the formulation of actionable recommendations that balance Nigeria’s sovereign cultural interests with international partnerships and diplomatic considerations.
“This Presidential intervention demonstrates our unwavering dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through peaceful means and established legal frameworks,”
stated Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa. “Cultural institutions are pillars of our national identity and must be protected through collaborative approaches that respect both traditional custodianship and modern institutional structures.”
The committee will submit its findings and recommendations directly to President Tinubu, facilitating swift implementation of sustainable solutions that uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.
The Federal Government reaffirms that while the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms, it equally demands responsibility in their exercise. Nigeria’s cultural spaces and artifacts represent our shared inheritance and deserve special protection under both moral imperative and legal statute.
All stakeholders are urged to maintain peace and cooperate fully with the Presidential
Committee as it pursues its vital mandate.
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