(From left): Ambassador Dr. Obiora Ogbogu, Ann. Dr. Evelyn Ogbogu (middle) flanked by traditional rulers of Big Quo Town Council Calabar after the grand reception in her Honour
Group pledges to ensure repatriation of stolen African artifacts
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Non-governmental organization, the State of Africa in Diaspora (SOAD) has promised to do everything within its reach to ensure that artifacts illegally taken away from African museums to Europe and America are repatriated back to the continent.
(From left): Ambassador Dr. Obiora Ogbogu, Ann. Dr. Evelyn Ogbogu (middle) flanked by traditional rulers of Big Quo Town Council Calabar after the grand reception in her Honour
Resident Ambassador of the organisation, Amb. Dr. Evelyn Eyo-Honesty Ogbogu, disclosed this in Calabar during the grand reception organised by Adohose Otu Effiom community, Big Quo Town Calabar.
Evelyn who doubles as Deputy Dean of Ambassadors (West Africa), South West and African Forum Federation (SWAFF) which has been sensitizing the communities disclosed that the organization has a mechanism put in place to actualise this.
She said historical artifacts found in far away countries in Europe, America Asia and Canada but belong to Africans will be returned back to their countries of origin in as much as there were illegally taken away from their original owners.
“We Will repatriate all historical artifacts taken away from South South, South East regions of the country and indeed all the all the geo-political regions of the country back to museums in the country.
“It’s the reason that the Organization has been calling on communities particularly in Nigeria who feel that their historical artifacts illegally taken to other countries of the world should apply to the organization for assistance.
“We are passionate and ready to give assistance to such communities.
“We did that and artifacts belonging to some communities in Edo state were returned back to the the original owners in Edo state.
“As long as kingdoms recognizes the fact that artifacts were stolen from their kingdoms and taken to other continents our organization will assist them to retrieve these historical remains.
“Luckily every artifact that was taken from Africa is branded and names this makes the job easy”. The resident ambassador maintained.
“For those who are in doubt let me announced to you that Edo state has received some of their artifacts with about 20 percent of the money value”, she said.
