Latest news with #Oba
eNCA
6 days ago
- General
- eNCA
Nigeria receives over 100 looted artefacts from the Netherlands
LAGOS - The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era. It is the latest return of artefacts to Africa, as pressure mounts on Western governments and institutions to hand back the spoils of colonial oppression. Nigeria celebrated the return of the priceless "Benin Bronzes" -- metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries -- with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. The selection included a bronze carving of a king's head, a carved elephant tusk and a small leopard. In the 19th century, British troops stole thousands of Benin Bronzes in the then-independent kingdom of Benin, in the south of present-day Nigeria. The sculptures were pillaged from the kingdom's royal palace and have since been held in museums and private collections across Europe and the United States. The four artefacts currently on display in Lagos will remain in the museum's permanent collection, while the others will be returned to Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin -- the traditional ruler of the kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria. "These are embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from," said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. "All we ask of the world is to treat us with fairness, dignity and respect," he said at the ceremony, where he announced that Germany had agreed to return more than 1,000 additional Benin Bronze pieces. "The German government has actually signed a transfer agreement to hand over a 1,000 Benin Bronzes back" to Nigeria, he said. Nigeria's art and culture minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who signed the handover document with the Dutch ambassador for international cultural cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd, said "Nigeria needs to reclaim its history and its heritage".
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Nigeria receives over 100 looted artifacts from the Netherlands
LAGOS: The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era. It is the latest return of artefacts to Africa, as pressure mounts on Western governments and institutions to hand back the spoils of colonial oppression. Nigeria celebrated the return of the priceless 'Benin Bronzes' -- metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries -- with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. The selection included a bronze carving of a king's head, a carved elephant tusk and a small leopard. In the 19th century, British troops stole thousands of Benin Bronzes in the then-independent kingdom of Benin, in the south of present-day Nigeria. The sculptures were pillaged from the kingdom's royal palace and have since been held in museums and private collections across Europe and the United States. The four artefacts currently on display in Lagos will remain in the museum's permanent collection, while the others will be returned to Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin -- the traditional ruler of the kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria. 'These are embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from,' said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. 'All we ask of the world is to treat us with fairness, dignity and respect,' he said at the ceremony, where he announced that Germany had agreed to return more than 1,000 additional Benin Bronze pieces. 'The German government has actually signed a transfer agreement to hand over a 1,000 Benin Bronzes back' to Nigeria, he said. Dignity Nigeria's art and culture minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who signed the handover document with the Dutch ambassador for international cultural cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd, said 'Nigeria needs to reclaim its history and its heritage'. 'The deal reached with Germany further underscores the growing international commitment to right historical wrongs and foster mutual respect,' she added. Van de Weerd said the Netherlands said the 'return of the bronzes which were stolen in 1897 by the British is historic' and would help to restore 'dignity'. She said her government was also working with other countries such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka for the restitution of artworks plundered by imperialist nations. Adebimpe Adebambo, a Lagos-based artist who has followed the repatriation of the Benin artefacts over the years, said she had paid 'top euro to see the works that were stolen from my country'. 'Im happy that they have come home to us,' she told AFP at the ceremony.
eNCA
6 days ago
- General
- eNCA
Nigeria receives over 100 looted artifacts from the Netherlands
LAGOS - The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era. It is the latest return of artefacts to Africa, as pressure mounts on Western governments and institutions to hand back the spoils of colonial oppression. Nigeria celebrated the return of the priceless "Benin Bronzes" -- metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries -- with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. The selection included a bronze carving of a king's head, a carved elephant tusk and a small leopard. In the 19th century, British troops stole thousands of Benin Bronzes in the then-independent kingdom of Benin, in the south of present-day Nigeria. The sculptures were pillaged from the kingdom's royal palace and have since been held in museums and private collections across Europe and the United States. The four artefacts currently on display in Lagos will remain in the museum's permanent collection, while the others will be returned to Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin -- the traditional ruler of the kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria. "These are embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from," said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. "All we ask of the world is to treat us with fairness, dignity and respect," he said at the ceremony, where he announced that Germany had agreed to return more than 1,000 additional Benin Bronze pieces. "The German government has actually signed a transfer agreement to hand over a 1,000 Benin Bronzes back" to Nigeria, he said. Nigeria's art and culture minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who signed the handover document with the Dutch ambassador for international cultural cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd, said "Nigeria needs to reclaim its history and its heritage".
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Netherlands returns over 100 looted artifacts to Nigeria
LAGOS (AFP) — The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era. It is the latest return of artefacts to Africa, as pressure mounts on Western governments and institutions to hand back the spoils of colonial oppression. Nigeria celebrated the return of the priceless "Benin Bronzes" — metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries — with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. The selection included a bronze carving of a king's head, a carved elephant tusk and a small leopard. In the 19th century, British troops stole thousands of Benin Bronzes in the then-independent kingdom of Benin, in the south of present-day Nigeria. The sculptures were pillaged from the kingdom's royal palace and have since been held in museums and private collections across Europe and the United States. The four artefacts currently on display in Lagos will remain in the museum's permanent collection, while the others will be returned to Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin — the traditional ruler of the kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria. "These are embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from," said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. "All we ask of the world is to treat us with fairness, dignity and respect," he said at the ceremony, where he announced that Germany had agreed to return more than 1,000 additional Benin Bronze pieces. "The German government has actually signed a transfer agreement to hand over a 1,000 Benin Bronzes back" to Nigeria, he said. Nigeria's Art and Culture Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who signed the handover document with the Dutch ambassador for international cultural cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd, said "Nigeria needs to reclaim its history and its heritage." "The deal reached with Germany further underscores the growing international commitment to right historical wrongs and foster mutual respect," she added. Van de Weerd said the Netherlands said the "return of the bronzes which were stolen in 1897 by the British is historic" and would help to restore "dignity." She said her government was also working with other countries such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka for the restitution of artworks plundered by imperialist nations. Adebimpe Adebambo, a Lagos-based artist who has followed the repatriation of the Benin artefacts over the years, said she had paid "top euro to see the works that were stolen from my country." "I'm happy that they have come home to us," she told Agence France-Presse at the ceremony.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Oba of Lagos expresses interest to attract investors for housing development
The Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, has expressed his enthusiasm for attracting investors to Lagos State to develop the housing sector. The monarch made this known during a courtesy visit by the Board Members of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) to his palace. According to the Oba, one of the most effective ways to create wealth globally is through real estate. He, therefore, urged the organisation to expand its reach globally to attract foreign investment and develop housing projects in Lagos State. To facilitate this, he pledged to provide up to 1,000 acres of land for housing development, assuring his full support for the initiative. The monarch also appealed to the government to find ways to alleviate the suffering of citizens and called on Nigerians to work together with the government to build a better country. He advised citizens to be hardworking and avoid greed, emphasising the importance of collective effort in national development. The Africa International Housing Show is advocating for affordable housing, with the organisation's board member, Olutoyin Ayinde, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to make housing more accessible. The Oba's influence, Ayinde noted, would be crucial in advancing this cause, potentially even drawing the attention of the President of Nigeria to the event. The 19th edition of the Africa International Housing Show is expected to feature a session with foreign investors who will exhibit their products. The CEO of Housing TV Africa and Coordinator of AIHS, Festus Adebayo, emphasised that the event's main focus is to promote locally made housing materials. He, therefore, sought the Oba's blessing to enhance advocacy for home ownership and affordable housing. In a related discussion, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Alitheia Capital, stressed the importance of self-regulation within the industry. She called for the adoption of local building materials and backwards integration in the construction value chain to reduce reliance on imported goods. According to her, this approach would not only create jobs but also make housing development more sustainable. Adeniyi Akinlusi, Managing Director and CEO of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, echoed this sentiment, noting that attracting foreign investors who produce goods locally would create jobs and stimulate economic growth. He expressed optimism that Lagos State is open for business and ready to provide an enabling environment for investors. The Oba's endorsement and support are seen as pivotal in advancing the goals of the Africa International Housing Show and promoting affordable housing in Lagos State.
