Hazret Omar Mosque in Benin Renovated with TİKA’s Support

The renovation work at the Hazret Omar Mosque in Benin, carried out by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), has been successfully completed.

In Benin, where a significant portion of the population is Muslim, there are limited facilities for young people to meet their religious and social needs due to financial constraints.

Solidarity activities centered around the mosque play a key role in bringing people together and shaping social life.

In this context, Beninese Muslim students, who gather around the Hazret Omar Mosque, which serves as both a social center and a place of worship, unite Muslim university and high school students from across Benin under an umbrella association they have established.

Beninese youth call for TİKA’s support

Young members of the Benin Muslim Students Cultural Association have reached out to TİKA, through the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Cotonou, seeking support to address the capacity, insulation, infrastructure and equipment deficiencies of the mosque they use for various purposes. The mosque, built with limited resources, serves as an important center for the community.

TİKA, responding positively to the call for assistance from Beninese Muslim students, initiated the renovation of the Hazret Omar Mosque.

Both the interior and exterior facades of the mosque were refurbished with roof repairs, insulation and the installation of a multi-purpose terrace completed.

In addition to providing a water tank, water connection lines were laid, and the ablution facilities and toilets were swiftly renovated.

Finally, the necessary sound systems were installed, and paving stones were laid around the mosque.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the newly renovated Association Center and Mosque was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Cotonou, Mesut Koç; President of the Benin Islamic Union, Imam Idrissou Lemanou Boukary; and TİKA’s Coordinator in Niamey, Tanju Polat.

In his speech at the ceremony, Imam Boukary expressed that they have always felt the strong support of Türkiye.

TİKA’s Coordinator in Niamey, Tanju Polat provided information about the project and thanked all those who contributed to its success.

Ambassador Koç highlighted Türkiye’s development assistance efforts in Benin and emphasized that TİKA’s activities in the region will continue.

The project aims to provide better conditions for the hundreds of young people who come to the Hazret Omar Mosque for worship as well as to encourage social activities organized by the association.