In a significant development for Nigeria’s cultural heritage, Coronation Group has partnered with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to establish a world-class gallery to showcase the Benin Bronzes.
The partnership was announced in a statement on Tuesday, following the official signing and handover ceremony held on June 21, 2025, at the National Museum in Lagos.
The Coronation Gallery, to be located within the new NCMM Oba Ovonramwen Facility in Benin City, will house 119 Benin Bronzes recently repatriated to Nigeria from the Netherlands.
This marks the largest repatriation of these cultural treasures since they were taken during the British punitive expedition of 1897.
The gallery, expected to be completed and opened to the public later this year, will provide a world-class space for conservation, education, and public engagement. Chairman of Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, said the return of the Benin Bronzes marks a powerful restoration of history and a reminder of the dignity, creative excellence, and craftsmanship that have long defined the Nigerian people.
The Director-General of NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, praised Coronation Group for sharing the vision and providing invaluable support to the NCMM.
This partnership deepens Coronation’s role in preserving and celebrating Nigerian heritage at home. Coronation Group is also partnering with Tate to present Nigerian Modernism, the first UK exhibition to trace the development of modern art in Nigeria.
The partnership reflects Coronation’s commitment to democratizing access to African art and affirming its expanding role as a corporate steward of cultural heritage within local and global art ecosystems.
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