ABUJA - Nigeria has formally received 119 looted artifacts from the Dutch government, as part of the official repatriation of 1,130 Benin bronzes taken away by European countries from the West African country over a century ago.

The handing over of the artifacts at a formal signing ceremony in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos on Saturday marked the largest single repatriation of artifacts in the country's history.

Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria's minister of art, culture, tourism and creative economy, said the repatriation was more than just the return of artifacts but "the restoration of national dignity".

ALSO READ: British Museum should return stolen artifacts

According to her, it was also a testament to a narrative of recovery and hope for the future restoration and well-being of generations of Nigerians, who needed to feel part of the story and history that continues to bind them as a people.

"Each bronze carries a fragment of the story of our ancestors, heritage, and shared humanity," Musawa said, noting the return aligned with the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) 1970 Convention, which prohibits the illicit trade and retention of cultural property. "It is a testament to the resilience of a people whose history can no longer be told solely through the lens of loss."

She said the Nigerian government was thankful to the Dutch government for deciding to be on the right side of history, by correcting one littered with pain.

The returned artifacts, which included commemorative heads and intricately crafted plaques, were believed to have been looted during the British invasion of the ancient Benin Kingdom in 1897. Auctioned all over Europe, some of the bronzes ended up in Dutch museums and have been exhibited for over a century.

READ MORE: British university to return looted bronze statue to Nigeria

The returned Bronzes are expected to be preserved and displayed in Nigeria.

Speaking earlier at the ceremony in Lagos, Dewi van de Weerd, the Netherlands' ambassador for international cultural cooperation, said the repatriated bronzes depicted the dynamic history and culture of the Kingdom of Benin as well as the people and their relationships with other societies.

She added that the Netherlands intends to continue the dialogue with other museums that have artifacts from Nigeria in their collections.