The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, on Monday announced members of the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum where the two looted artefacts that were recently returned by the British Government to the country would be kept and safeguarded.
He named the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, as a member of the Board of Trustees. Other members of the borad of trustees include Aghatise Erediauwa, The Chairman of AriseNews and This Day media group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru amongst others.
Similarly, Oba Ewuare II signed documents preceding the return of the two looted artefacts.
At a ceremony at the palace, the traditional ruler and those involved in the process signed the necessary documents in line with the British laws regarding return of artefacts.
Oba Ewaure II who commended the role played by the Federal Government in the return of the artefacts, said Benin art and culture reflect the past and present glory as well as splendour of the kingdom.
He said, “As our treasures are returned, our youths will be able to establish a new relationship with the heritage bequeathed by their forefathers.
“The return of all the treasures taken away will begin a new era of Benin history and civilization. International best practice and the rule of law dictate that restitution and compensation are the new discourse.
“We ask that friendly countries seeking to return our artefacts should do so directly to the Oba of Benin or to the Federal Government who will hold them in trust and return the same to the Palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom as was recently done in Cambridge and Aberdeen,” he added.
Recall that the artefacts, with others expected to arrive in Nigeria soon, were looted about 124 years ago.
They would at a later day be handed over to the monarch by the Federal Government.