Recognition follows major Nigerian artefacts’ return and renewed efforts to modernise the country’s museums
By Halima Adaba
TIME Magazine has listed Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), on its inaugural TIME100 Art list of the 100 most influential people shaping the future of global art.
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Holloway appeared on the list in September as a “repatriation advocate”, making the recognition as much about Nigeria’s campaign to recover its cultural heritage as about the man leading it.
His inclusion is notable in a list populated by artists, collectors, curators and cultural entrepreneurs.
Holloway’s influence has largely been exercised through negotiation, rebuilding confidence among institutions, and resolving complex questions surrounding the ownership and future care of Nigeria’s returned artefacts.
TIME highlights the agreement reached between the NCMM and the Oba of Benin.
The 20-page document outlines shared responsibilities concerning the retrieval, conservation and future custody of the Benin Bronzes.
Art historian Chika Okeke-Agulu told TIME that the agreement stemmed from Holloway’s ability to address uncertainty both within Nigeria and abroad over the rightful ownership of the objects.
That clarity, he noted, enabled Nigeria to present a unified position in negotiations with international institutions.
One of the most significant outcomes of this process was the return of 119 Benin Bronzes from the Netherlands in June 2025, marking the largest single physical repatriation of Benin artefacts to Nigeria.
The NCMM has since secured the legal transfer of 116 Benin Bronzes from the University of Cambridge.
In addition, 18 Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths have been physically returned from Switzerland.
These developments have placed Nigeria at the centre of the global debate over colonial-era collections and the responsibility of European and North American museums to return objects acquired through military conquest and imperial exploitation.
Holloway’s work at the NCMM has also extended to the institutions responsible for preserving and presenting the artefacts locally.
The National Museum, Lagos, has been renovated, with upgraded exhibition spaces, improved lighting, modern display systems and enhanced conservation facilities.
Its permanent exhibition, Echoes of the Past: A Timeline of Antiquity in Nigeria, draws from cultures and historical periods across the country to present a more coherent account of Nigeria’s development.
The Commission has also launched Nigeria’s first digital museum of antiquities.
More than 200 objects from the National Museum’s collection have been scanned in 3D and placed in an immersive online environment, available free to the public.
The project expands access to Nigerian antiquities beyond physical museum walls, opening the collection to young Nigerians, schools, researchers and international audiences.
Holloway, who came into public service after a career in advertising and brand strategy, was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024.
His TIME100 Art recognition comes less than three years into his tenure and reflects growing international attention on Nigeria’s more coordinated approach to restitution, museum renewal and digital access.
The NCMM currently oversees 53 museums across Nigeria and is responsible for the collection, documentation, conservation and presentation of the country’s cultural heritage.
Also read: Nigeria To US National Laureate: Umemezie’s Poetry Is Bridging Two Worlds
With negotiations ongoing over Nigerian objects held by the British Museum and other international institutions, Holloway’s inclusion signals that Nigeria’s campaign for the recovery of its heritage has become an increasingly influential part of the global art conversation.
