The Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), in partnership with First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), has trained 30 secondary school students as first responders to enhance emergency preparedness across Lagos State.
The one-day training, held at the Rome Business School in Ikeja, brought together students from various educational districts. The programme is part of a long-term campaign to equip young Nigerians with life-saving skills for emergencies and health or environmental crises.
Speaking at the event, HEI Executive Director, Mr. Pascal Achunine, said the training empowers young people to take prompt and informed action during emergencies. “Less than five percent of Nigerians have the capacity to respond resiliently when emergencies occur. This training equips young people with the capacity to respond when emergencies happen,” he noted. HEI has so far trained over 149,000 first responders nationwide, including teachers, transporters, LASTMA officers, and FRSC personnel.
Mrs. Ayebatonye Benjamin-Basuo, Head of Social Performance at First E&P, highlighted that HEI is a beneficiary of the company’s Impact First Grant Programme, which supports NGOs creating measurable social impact. She added, “This initiative equips people to provide immediate help before the ambulance or doctor arrives. It’s invaluable, especially given traffic delays and distance from hospitals in many parts of the country.”
Mr. Olufemi Akinbade, Executive Secretary of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, praised the initiative as a proactive step toward cultivating a generation of health-conscious citizens. Similarly, Mrs. Aramide Shitabe, Head of NGO Unit at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, described the partnership as a life-saving intervention, noting that emergencies occur at home, in schools, markets, and on roads.
The programme aligns with HEI’s ongoing mission to bridge the healthcare access gap for vulnerable populations through medical relief, health advocacy, and community-based outreach.
