#Haiti, September 15, 2023 – The Federal Government of Nigeria has completed the reconstruction of the Benoit Batraville High School in Saut-D’eau, Haiti, after 12.8 years, as part of its answer to calls for help from the Republic after the devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2010. This is also part of the Government’s efforts to fortify existing bilateral relations between both countries, as reported by The Guardian of Nigeria.

The project which was supported by  Nigerians and the Red Cross Society was put on somewhat of a delay due to suspension in 2015 as a result of unexpected hindrances.

Fortunately, it was “rejuvenated by the Nigerian Government through its High Commission in Jamaica that is concurrently accredited to Haiti in 2022,” The Guardian reports.

After due process, that is for the specified requirements, the contract was awarded to a Jamaican-based Benson Construction Company and the project was started in February, meeting completion in August.

On the 29th of August, the newly constructed building was handed over to the Haitian Authorities during a handover ceremony attended physically and virtually by top government functionaries of both countries.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica with concurrent accreditation to Haiti, Dominican Republic and Belize; Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, Minister of Education Haiti; Mr Nesmy Manigat, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Haiti, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs Haiti; Mr Azad Belfort as well as senior government officials from Haiti were all in attendance.

Ambassador Tamuno gave her remarks during which she gave kudos to the bilateral relations between both countries and expressed delight at the delivery of the project.

She also expressed thanks to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his renewed hope agenda and commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the countries.

Furthermore, she thanked other officials, who played a role in seeing through the success of the project, continuing to refer to teachers and students encouraging them to make good use of the school, expressing she wants to revisit Haiti soon.

Tamuno also made mention of the current crisis in Haiti, urging stakeholders, especially the United Nations, to aid in bringing the country back to a state of rest and normalcy.

Mr. Azad Belfort, Director of Foreign Affairs, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Haiti, lauded the Nigerian Government for their munificence, especially Amb Tamuno, for their hard work towards the success of the project, further alluding to the close ties Nigeria and Haiti shared through descendants of Nigeria’s Igbo community.

Additionally, more thanks were expressed towards Nigeria by Nesmy Manigat, Haiti’s Minister of Education, for delivering on their promise.

“I was there in 2015 as Minister of Education, Haiti. A lot has happened. We have come a long way despite the educational and security challenges in my country, including problems of infrastructure. In spite of all those challenges, today, under Amb. Tamuno, Nigeria has delivered. We are indeed very thankful for the school project,” he said.

Photo Credit: The Guardian Nigeria