The Executive Governor of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has revealed that his administration would begin the construction of a world class art museum of West African Arts beginning from September 2022. He made this disclosure at the unveiling of the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) project at a stakeholders engagement meeting held at the John Odigie Oyegun Academy in Benin City on Thursday.
According to Gov. Obaseki, the project, which is in phases was conceptualized about four years ago and is aimed at showcasing the unique works of art in West Africa, stressing that it was important in order to make Edo state the nerve centre of arts in West Africa and ensure that the state become more competitive locally and internationally.
“Art can’t thrive without the support of government, we needed to identify our art, extol it and then expose it for the world to see. That’s why it’s important to have this infrastructure here,” said Governor Obaseki.
In his own address, the Executive Director of EMOWAA, Dr. Philip Iheanacho who appreciated the state government for providing land and seed capital for the project; gave a concise breakdown of the project explaining that the museum would be a world class storage and archival facility with a materials research laboratory which is aimed at supporting museums in West Africa and would commence with the first phase which would see the construction of the Pavilion in September 2022 to be completed by next year.
Responding to questions of sustainability of the project raised by participants at the stakeholder summit, Dr. Iheanacho maintained that it had an independent trust funding structure that would guarantee the sustainability of the project long after the expiration of the tenure of this administration.
The stakeholder summit had in attendance, the Secretary to the state government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Chief of staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, members of the state executive Council, heads of ministries and agencies, representatives of artisans and other stakeholders in the tourism and arts and culture sector amongst others.
