The return of a looted bronze cockerel by Jesus College University of Cambridge, to representatives of Nigeria in the UK during the week, has elicited a myriad of positive remarks from Nigerians all over the world.
However unknown to many, the entire call to remove the looted cockerel known as ‘Okukor’ from public display at the college was led by a young African of Ghanaian descent, Amatey Doku when he served as the student union president of the University.
Doku and Ore Ogunbiyi, who was a student of the University back then, correctly identified the origin of the cockerel and decided to launch a student campaign to return it to Nigeria. It took three years for their demands to be granted.
The college then set up a legacy of slavery working party (LSWP), comprising fellows, staff and student representatives, to explore the historical, legal and moral status of its ownership of the bronze.
TheNewsGuru gathered that the ‘Okukur’, was taken by British colonial forces in 1897 and given to Jesus College in 1905 by the father of a student. A decision for it to be returned was made in 2019 after students campaigned.
Doku born to a psychiatrist father is presently a Consultant at Nous Group. He is an experienced communicator with a passion for public policy. He has worked with senior leaders across higher education at a government, sector and university level. He enjoys tackling difficult problems and encouraging others to think outside the box. He also champions the need for qualitative experiences to be at the heart of an evidenced-based approach to solutions. Outside of Nous, Amatey has a strong interest in tackling structural inequalities as well as a keen advocate for music and the arts.
The handing over documents were signed on Wednesday during a ceremony at the college to transfer ownership of the Okukor to the Nigerian delegation.
London-based Daily Mail reported that the sculpture of a cockerel was one of hundreds of Benin Bronzes pillaged from the Kingdom of Benin, in Nigeria.
Sonita Alleyne, the master of Jesus College, said: “This is an historic moment … it is the right thing to do out of respect for the unique heritage and history of this artefact.
“I would like to thank the LSWP for its diligent and careful investigation into the provenance of the bronze, to the fellows for their keen support for its restitution, and to our students who pioneered early calls for this.”