By Edward Oseghe
BENIN CITY — A transformative safety consciousness movement is sweeping across Edo State as the World Safety Organization (WSO) Nigeria, in strategic partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Education, continues its high-impact statewide school sensitization campaign designed to equip students and teachers with essential safety knowledge and emergency response skills.
The SafERR (Safety and Emergency Response Ready) Schools Sensitization Campaign, which ran from June 10 to June 19, 2026, reached multiple public secondary schools across the state, promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness, and responsible safety practices among the younger generation.
Emphasizing the importance of safety as a fundamental human right, Amb. Dr. Soji Olalokun, Country Director of World Safety Organization Nigeria and Executive Director of SafERR Global Networks, stated: “At the World Safety Organization, we believe that safety is a fundamental right, not a privilege.”
“We are committed to creating a culture of safety within Nigerian schools and across the globe, where every child can feel safe to learn, free from fear of hazards or danger.
“We must work together to protect our children, our future, and our nation. A SafERR Edo School is a thriving school, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure all Nigerian schools achieve this status,” he added.
Anchored on the theme “Training Minds, Protecting Lives,” the initiative aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 10, 11, and 17, focusing on good health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the goals.
The campaign targets 38 schools across 19 public secondary institutions, with the objective of reaching more than 95,700 students, teachers, and parents. The programme reinforced the message that safety education is a vital component of quality learning and community development.
The SafERR Schools Advocacy Project was designed in response to growing concerns over preventable risks in learning environments, including fire incidents, unsafe practices, medical emergencies, bullying, and limited awareness of emergency response procedures.
Through interactive sessions, demonstrations, and practical exercises, students and teachers received training on hazard identification and reporting, fire prevention, basic first aid, CPR and AED awareness, emergency preparedness, anti-bullying advocacy, and personal safety responsibility.
Throughout the campaign, the team emphasized the SafERR philosophy: “Do the Safe Thing, Even When No One is Watching,” reminding participants that a safety-conscious child today becomes a safety-conscious adult tomorrow.
The sensitization programme continued on June 10 at Niger College, Benin City, where teachers and junior and senior secondary students participated in comprehensive safety awareness sessions. Participants were educated on the meaning and classification of hazards, their roles in preventing accidents, basic first aid practices, and emergency response readiness.
The campaign team subsequently visited St. Maria Goretti Girls Senior Secondary School and St. Maria Goretti Girls Junior Secondary School, where students received identical life-saving training. A major highlight was the practical fire extinguisher demonstration, which enabled both teachers and students to gain firsthand knowledge of fire response techniques. Students who demonstrated outstanding understanding during assessment sessions were rewarded with gifts.
On June 17, the campaign continued at Uselu Secondary School, where students and staff participated in an engaging awareness programme covering key safety principles and emergency preparedness.
The team also visited New Era Girls College Senior and Junior Secondary Schools, where students were sensitized on critical issues including bullying prevention, hazard awareness, first aid, and CPR readiness.
Teachers expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing the sessions as timely, informative, and valuable. Students actively participated throughout the presentations.
The ongoing phase of the campaign saw the SafERR team visit Ogbe Secondary School, where a combined assembly session for junior and senior students featured safety education and practical fire extinguisher demonstrations. Mrs. Itohanmwen Augustina, Senior Principal of Ogbe Secondary School, encouraged students and teachers to promote safety beyond the school environment by advocating for improved emergency preparedness in their homes and communities.
The programme continued at Anglican Girls Grammar School, where Mrs. Imhonde, Junior School Principal, and participants received training on anti-bullying awareness, hazard prevention, first aid, CPR, and fire safety practices.
The school principal commended the initiative, noting that although she had owned a fire extinguisher before the training, the sensitization provided her with practical knowledge on its proper use. She called for more regular safety education programmes, stressing that continuous training would greatly benefit both teachers and students.
With safety drills, student participation, and the SafERR Creed resonating across school halls and assembly grounds, the World Safety Organization Nigeria and the Edo State Ministry of Education are steadily building a stronger culture of safety awareness across the state.
The initiative continues to reinforce the message that safety is not merely a response to emergencies but a lifestyle that must be cultivated from childhood.
As the SafERR Schools Campaign progresses, its vision remains clear: to make safety a way of life throughout Edo State — one student, one teacher, and one school at a time.
 Nigeria, in strategic partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Education, continues its high-impact statewide school sensitization campaign designed to equip students and teachers with essential safety knowledge and emergency response skills.){kind=link}