By Sharon Akuboh
The Kingdom of Sweden and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 5th November 2026, marked an important milestone in cultural cooperation with the official repatriation and transfer of legal ownership of 39 Nigerian cultural artifacts – including some Benin Bronzes from Sweden to Nigeria.
The transfer follows extensive collaboration between the National Museums of World Culture in Sweden and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria. It also reflects the strong and longstanding relationship between Sweden and Nigeria, which this year marks 65 years of diplomatic relations.
The ceremony, held at the National Museum in Lagos on Thursday, 5 November 2026, brought together representatives of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the Swedish National Museums of World Culture (NMWC), the Embassy of Sweden in Nigeria, and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
A key moment of the event was the signing of the Instrument of Transfer and Permanent Custody Agreement between the National Museums of World Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, formalizing the transfer of ownership of the artifacts to Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, emphasized the importance of dialogue, partnership and mutual respect in strengthening international cultural relations.
“We are not here with a gift from Sweden to Nigeria. The return of these artefacts reflects an acknowledgement of their history, their origins, and their enduring significance to the people of Nigeria. It is an expression of respect for cultural heritage and for the connection between people and their history”.
Beyond the return of the artefacts themselves, the occasion underscores a shared commitment to continued cooperation in heritage preservation, research, education and cultural exchange. For Nigeria, the transfer of these cultural artefacts is significant not only as a heritage matter, but also as a recognition of the importance of cultural identity and historical continuity.
Their return supports ongoing efforts to preserve and showcase Nigeria’s cultural legacy for future generations.
The Government of Sweden welcomes the continued partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nigerian cultural institutions and looks forward to further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
For media enquiries: Embassy of Sweden, Abuja (Ambassaden.abuja@gov.se)
Weekenders magazine can only pray and hope that other Nations that still have artifacts from Nigeria in their possession will take a cue from Sweden and do same. Thank you Sweden.