Irish government interested in returning Benin bronze
BY ORJI ONYEKWERE
The Edo State Government has pledged to partner with the Irish Government to attract more investments into the State. Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Uyi Oduwa Malaka gave this indication during her visit to the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ryan in Abuja.
Uyi Malaka, who was Abuja for the annual meeting of Tourism Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors and other Tourism stakeholders, told the Irish Ambassador of the workable opportunities that abound in Edo State adding that the current administration in the State led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has created an enabling environment for foreign and local investments to thrive towards the overall growth of the State’s economy.
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According to her, “For us in Edo, the present government headed by Governor Godwin Obaseki has done so much to enhance the ease of doing business by ensuring that businesses and investors don’t go through unnecessary bottle necks”
“Edo has been deliberate in driving tourism with the right policies and infrastructure to give the sector the needed boost and equally opens its doors for collaborations”, the Commissioner said.
The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, said the Government and people of Ireland have been great admirers of Benin Kingdom with fascinating history as that of Galway as Ireland’s Cultural heart, assuring that his country would be willing to collabort with the State in different areas including Tourism development, Repatriation of artifacts from the National Museum of Ireland, Diaspora works, Education, Information Technology amongst others.
Ryan told the Commissioner that the envisaged partnership will assist Edo to have links with both Irish individuals and institutions including online domains that would be interested in the opportunities in Edo which in turn would add to the State’s economy emphasising that the Irish government is enthusiastic to join other European countries in the return of Benin bronzes in its National Museum of Ireland.
