In a bid to strengthen emergency preparedness and promote life-saving skills, the Health Emergency Initiative, in partnership with TotalEnergies E&P, has concluded a comprehensive emergency response training programme for secondary school teachers and students across Lagos State.
The training, which took place at the Rome Business School in the Ikeja area of Lagos, brought together key government officials, educators, and young learners, all united by a common goal: equipping first responders with the knowledge to act swiftly before professional medical help arrives.
The Special Assistant to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health,Ademolu Adegbenga, described the initiative as a “laudable programme” that bridges a critical gap in emergency response capacity.
He underscored the unpredictability of emergencies and the importance of prompt action.
“For every country, an emergency occurs at one time or the other. One doesn’t know when it will happen. It could be on the street or even at the workplace. Wherever it happens, there’s a need for someone to act as a first responder who will resuscitate the victim. It takes a few seconds to save lives, but if the first responder is not there, life may be lost,” Adegbenga said.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary for the Health District overseeing Ikeja, Mushin, Oshodi, and Isolo, Abímbola Mabogunje, stressed the value of early intervention in emergency situations.
She noted that teaching first aid in schools equips young people with the tools to act in life-threatening moments.
Founder of the Health Emergency Initiative, Pascal Achunine, lauded the programme’s reach and its collaborative model.
“Today is a defining moment for our organisation. This sponsorship from TotalEnergies E&P has enabled us to train not just students and teachers but also engage key stakeholders from ministries and agencies involved in emergency response,” Achunine said.
Participating students shared testimonials of the knowledge and confidence they gained. Marianne Chukwuonyi, a student of Dominican College, said, “Before I attended this training, my knowledge about first aid was really small.” Similarly, Oladimeji Oluwatobiloba from Gbagada Senior Grammar School remarked, “This training helps people to know how to handle some emergencies before taking the victims to the hospital.”
The organisers hope the training will serve as a model for other states, promoting a culture of preparedness and responsiveness among Nigeria’s youth.
