By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY – AS controversy continue to trail the planned inauguration of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), a former Commissioner in the Godwin Obaseki administration and currently the State Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor on Thursday said MOWAA is not established to take possession of Benin artworks being returned to the palace of the Oba of Benin.
He made this clarification in response to a recent protest by some groups claiming it was a ploy to take the artworks and campaigning that it should not be opened just as he clarified the ownership of the facility.
Ifaluyi-Isibor said like other museums across the world, MOWAA is a not for profit venture and that it received donations from various organisations including the Edo State government which he said donated N3.8 billion into the building.
According to him, “MOWAA is a not for profit enterprise, this means it is not created to be a profit making business. Its goal is to preserve, protect and share culture, history, science and arts with the global public as they come to Benin to enjoy West African Arts.
“MOWAA’s vision is to show the World what West African Arts provides and serve as a support system to all contemporary creatives all over West Africa and this transcends just Benin Artistry or a showcase of Benin Art Work.
“MOWAA will not House the Returned Artifacts as they remain in the custody of the Oba of Benin, it will bring an advantage to the entire spectrum of the Benin Art and amplify what we have to offer to the rest of the world. Our local artisans, bronze casters and wood carvers will be connected to more markets and this will attract audiences to them. MOWAA expects to host events from curation to fashion designing and exhibitions on a regular basis, bringing people into the state and boosting commerce in the state.”
He said MOWAA is structured as an independent trust where by the person or institution managing the trust is independent of the beneficiaries.
According to him, the trustees of MOWAA were drawn from the private sector including the international community and seats on the board reserved for the Edo State Government, the Palace of the Oba of Benin and representatives of other independent organizations.
For Edo State’s stake in the project, he said “The administration of Godwin Obaseki had made a donation of about N3.8billion to the building and development of MOWAA.
“MOWAA has also received over $30 million from the German Government, the US Government, the British Government, the Melon Foundation, Ford Foundation, the French Government, the Getty Foundation and several other organizations. All of these donations where charity donations to the establishment of MOWAA and since Museums are non-profit and non-governmental, none of the donors made contributions with the purpose of getting returns on investment. The funds donated are classified as outright gifts, not investments, expecting dividends or shares, no equity or returns are expected.
“Just like the British Museum in London, MOWAA will operate independently and run typically on philanthropy.”
He said none of the donors have a direct financial payback “except the Edo people who will benefit in the short, medium and long term. The money put in by all donors was a commitment to cultural legacy and it will create over 25,000 jobs directly and indirectly just as we will reap the entire stretch of benefits from MOWAA as it has the propensity to transform Benin into a global hub for African Arts and Archaeology. ‘
The MOWAA he said would also enhance the state’s tourism potentials, improve its education opportunities and permanently elevate Benin stature on the global stage.
“MOWAA is a shared public good and that’s why international donors who have put in way more funds than the Edo State Government demand no control.”
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