Lagos, Nigeria | 6 March 2025 – In a strategic move to strengthen emergency response training in Nigeria, TotalEnergies Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) has partnered with Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to equip 200 students and teachers in Lagos and Rivers States with essential first responder skills.
This initiative focuses on CPR, first aid, trauma care, and pre-hospital emergency response, empowering young Nigerians to provide immediate, life-saving assistance before professional medical help arrives. By integrating emergency preparedness into school curriculums, the program fosters a culture of proactive lifesaving intervention within local communities.
Addressing Nigeria’s Urgent Need for First Responder Training
Speaking on the critical need for emergency preparedness, Paschal Achunine, an Ashoka Fellow and Executive Director of HEI, highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s ongoing healthcare brain drain and the importance of empowering young individuals with first responder skills.
“With the increasing migration of healthcare professionals due to the ‘japa’ trend, training students and teachers to respond effectively to emergencies is more critical than ever. This initiative will help bridge the gap in emergency response, ultimately reducing preventable deaths.”
Achunine also commended TotalEnergies CPFA for its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community development.
“By investing in first responder training, **TotalEnergies CPFA is not only saving lives but also ensuring community resilience and business continuity by equipping individuals with vital emergency response skills.”
Government Endorsement and a Call for More Support
Representing the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Shitta-Bey Aramide praised TotalEnergies CPFA’s investment in youth development and emergency preparedness.
“This initiative is a game-changer. Instead of bystanders recording incidents on their phones, we are cultivating a culture of active lifesaving intervention. This is why the Ministry of Education has approved HEI’s training program for all senior secondary school students in Lagos State, integrating it into the official school curriculum.”
She further urged corporate organizations and philanthropists to support this impactful CSR initiative, helping more students receive lifesaving first responder training. She emphasized HEI’s track record in transparency, accountability, and successful project execution, making it a trusted partner in emergency response training.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Emergency Response Culture
Through this partnership, TotalEnergies CPFA and HEI are making a significant impact on emergency response training in Nigeria. By equipping students and teachers with critical first responder skills, this initiative aims to increase survival rates, create a more safety-conscious society, and contribute to a resilient and prepared population.
To date, HEI has trained over 126,000 first responders across Nigeria, addressing critical gaps in emergency preparedness and lifesaving interventions.
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