When an emergency strikes, every second can mean the difference between life and death.
In the Chairman’s Chamber of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Lagos State, a room full of eager College students, discovered that they could make a difference themselves.
The air buzzed with curiosity as AfriSAFE, in partnership with First Aid Services Nigeria, prepared to equip the students on November 27 with skills that could one day save lives, knowledge that goes far beyond textbooks and classrooms.
By the end of the session, these students were not just learners; they were equipped with knowledge, courage and a sense of responsibility that could ripple through their homes, schools and communities.
The free one day programme introduced students to CPR, the D-R-A (Danger, Rescue, Airway) procedure, and other life-saving techniques designed to improve community safety. It was part of AfriSAFE’s broader mission to embed a culture of safety across Africa, ensuring that every young person has the tools to respond effectively in critical situations.
In a goodwill message, AfriSAFE’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Femi Da-Silva, represented by the organisation’s Senior Coordinator, Mr. Victory Bernard, described the initiative as a catalyst for change. “AfriSAFE is an organization that is committed to health and safety in Africa.
This commitment has driven the organization to make giant strides which goes beyond recognition of safety excellence but also executing safety empowerment initiatives.”
Bernard expressed optimism about the programme’s long-term impact.
“Empowering young people with first-aid skills will strengthen safety across Lagos. I encourage the students to make use of the knowledge they acquired in health and emergency response,” he said.
Dr. Akhere Marian Akran, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lead at First Aid Services Nigeria, emphasized the importance of reaching underserved communities.
“A key part of what we do is to ensure that they are able to share information with communities, vulnerable persons, as well as children.
“We do not rule out anyone to be able to save a life,” she said.
“Everyone is a potential lifesaver. If you didn’t train them, don’t blame them. When people know better, they do better.”
She also highlighted the positive changes in perception the programme can create. “The community is changing, and programmes like this help reshape perception,” she added.
Ambassador Isaac Success Omoyele, Youth Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun and founder of Dreams From The Slum, described it as timely for a community that frequently witnesses preventable incidents.
“We see cases that get worse simply because people don’t know what to do,” he said. “Many teachers and students are not trained; and that was why I reached out to First Aid Services Nigeria.”
He also stressed the importance of making the programme accessible to everyone adding that AfriSAFE’s sponsorship was crucial to the success of the program.
“Some families struggle to feed, and paying for training would have reduced participation. Making it free has given us a chance to build lifesavers in our community,” Omoyele said.
He urged students to see the training as a pathway to opportunity: “Some of them want to be nurses, doctors, or surgeons.
“This is a step in the right direction. It can propel them toward their ambitions.”
Noting the impact, Mr. Kaluobu Emmanuel Njoku, Instructor and Acting Administrator at Chuzza Schools, hailed the accessibility of the programme. “Had it been expensive, most of the students wouldn’t have come.
Making it free encouraged them. Many of the concepts taught today were entirely new to them,” he said.
For the students, the training was an eye-opener. Uzoma Favour, an SS1 student at Chuzza Eaglet College, said, “I learned that emergencies are never planned, and we all have a duty of care.
First aid is given to save life, promote quick recovery and prevent the condition from getting worse.”
Another student, Moses Chinenyen Eze, a JSS2 learner at My Dream Stead School, reflected on the practical lessons: “D stands for Danger, R stands for Rescue, and A stands for Airway,” he said. “Now I understand exactly when CPR should be performed.”
By the close of the session, AfriSAFE and First Aid Services had done far more than teach first aid. They had instilled confidence, awareness, and a sense of responsibility in the students- a spark that promises to ripple through families, schools, and the wider community.
