The Edo State Assets Verification Committee has said that despite the N3.8 billion contribution to the establishment of the Museum of West African Arts, MOWAA, by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki, the state has no equity shares in the project.
Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the chairman of the committee, disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City on Thursday.
He said the revelation was contrary to the claim by the past government that Edo State has not invested in the project and as such does not have a stake in it.
According to him, the Museum of West Africa Arts, MOWAA, is captured as an independent private trust sitting on government land.
“The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism has minimal supervision on the project.
“To date, Edo State has no equity stake in MOWAA even though the state had spent N3.8billion as a contribution,” he said.
The committee chairman, who said ongoing work on the project would not be stopped, added that the committee will meet with the governor on the way forward.
“If the project will be beneficial to the state, it is only the governor that will decide what next steps to take either to take ownership or not,” he added.
Recall that Obaseki had in January 2022 demolished the over 100 years old Benin Central Hospital and replaced it with a museum.
Also, recall that Obaseki had last November, while officially unveiling and the Museum of West African Art, MOWAA, Institute and Campus in Benin City, said he demolished the hospital to build a better one, which is the Stella Obasanjo hospital.
