Nigeria and Switzerland have initiated discussions on the repatriation of looted Nigerian artefacts, including monoliths and bronze pieces, housed in Swiss museums, as confirmed by a meeting on August 29, 2025, in Abuja. Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, hosted Swiss Ambassador Patrick Felix Egloff, who expressed Switzerland’s willingness to enter bilateral agreements for cultural cooperation and artefact restitution. Egloff noted that the process began three years ago, with plans to hand over bronze pieces via the Nigerian Embassy by year-end. Musawa emphasized the cultural significance of retrieving these artefacts and highlighted potential collaborations in animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism. The talks build on the Benin Initiative Switzerland, launched in 2023, which identified dozens. The discussions mark a historic first meeting between a Swiss ambassador and a Nigerian Minister of Art and Culture, signaling a commitment to strengthen cultural ties and address colonial-era looting, with Swiss museums voluntarily participating in the Benin Initiative Switzerland to ensure legal and ethical returns.
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