Lagos Govt, NGO Partner To Strengthen Safety Awareness In Schools

To strengthen safety awareness among students, the Lagos State Safety Commission, in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the International Award for Young People Nigeria, has inaugurated School Safety Ambassadors across schools in the state.

The ceremony held yesterday at the Immaculate Heart Senior Secondary School, brought together students, teachers and safety stakeholders committed to promoting a culture of safety in schools.

At the event, the director-general of the Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, emphasised that safety goes beyond preventing accidents, describing it as a collective responsibility that requires vigilance and accountability.

“Safety is not just about making sure nothing bad happens; it is about staying alert, taking responsibility and looking out for one another,” he said, noting that the initiative is designed to empower students as leaders who will make their schools safer environments for learning.

Addressing the newly inaugurated ambassadors, Mojola urged them to serve as role models and advocates of safety.

“Be responsible, speak up when you see something unsafe. If you see it, say it, sort it,” he advised.

He also charged teachers to support the ambassadors by guiding them, listening to their ideas, and helping translate their enthusiasm into practical results, describing educators as critical to the initiative’s success.

Mojola expressed optimism that in the coming months, students would take the lead in organising safety activities within their schools and supporting teachers in maintaining safe environments.

“Safety is a team effort. When students and teachers work together, our schools will become places where everyone can succeed without fear,” he added.

Earlier, the Deputy Director of Public Safety and Well-being at the Commission, Abiola Mary Abiola, said the programme underscores the importance of proactive, inclusive safety measures.

She noted that the partnership with the International Award for Young People Nigeria aims to deepen safety consciousness at the grassroots by empowering students to identify risks, promote safe behaviour and support emergency preparedness within their schools.

Also in her remarks, the representative of the International Award for Young People Nigeria, Mrs Alice Babalola, while presenting an Action plan for the newly inaugurated ambassadors, told them to promote safety awareness in their schools, encourage peer education, strengthen reporting systems, build leadership, and address safety risks in their schools.

Highlights of the programme included lectures on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivered by representatives of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr Kazeem Olanrewaju and Mr Femi Ogunfowora, sessions on sexual harassment awareness and reporting by Executive Director, Africa Bridge Initiative, Mr Opeoluwa Taiwo, as well as discussions on environmental hazards, safety management and personal safety practices in schools by the MD/ CEO of Bimsul Ventures, Mr Adeyinka Adebiyi.

The initiative is part of broader efforts by the Lagos State Government to institutionalise safety education and build a culture of prevention among young people.