The Karim Adeyemi Foundation(KAF) , in collaboration with the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has restocked first aid kits in 50 public primary schools across six local government areas of Oyo State as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response in schools.
The schools were drawn from Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas.
The intervention, under Phase II of the foundation’s Safe Schools Initiative, also featured refresher training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for teachers and pupils to improve their capacity to respond to medical emergencies.
The programme was held on Tuesday at the NUT Hall, IDC Primary School, Gbagi, Ibadan, with representatives of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, headteachers, teachers and other stakeholders in attendance.
In his address, the President of the Karim Adeyemi Foundation, Mogaji Abiodun Adeyemi, who was represented by the Director of Sports and Youth Empowerment, Mr Zakary Lawal, said the second phase was designed to sustain the gains recorded during the initiative’s first phase, which began more than a year ago.
Lawal said the foundation had initially provided first aid kits to 50 public primary schools across the six local government areas, alongside practical training for teachers and pupils.
He explained that Phase II involved replenishing and upgrading the kits with standardised medical supplies, providing refresher training and assessing the programme’s impact.
“When we launched Phase I, we made a solemn promise that this would not be a one-off donation. Too often in development work, projects are launched with great fanfare, only to be forgotten. At Karim Adeyemi Foundation, we believe that true impact lies in sustainability,” he said.
Lawal added that the foundation was gathering feedback and monitoring data to evaluate the initiative, identify areas for improvement and prepare for a planned expansion in 2027.
He said the foundation hoped to extend the programme to more public primary schools across Oyo State, with the long-term goal of ensuring that every public primary school had adequate first aid supplies and trained personnel.
“Our ultimate dream is to see every single public primary school in Oyo State fully equipped and trained, and for this to become a permanent programme in the state’s basic education system,” he said.
Lawal called on corporate organisations, development partners and philanthropists to support the initiative, adding that findings from the monitoring and evaluation exercise would be shared with SUBEB, the Ministry of Education and other potential partners.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Oyo SUBEB, Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, commended the foundation for its commitment to pupils’ safety and welfare.
Adeniran, who was represented by the Education Secretary of Oluyole Local Government Area, Ganiyu Waheed, also appreciated the foundation for providing first aid kits and training teachers and pupils during the initiative’s first phase.
He said the replenishment of the kits in 50 schools and the refresher training in first aid and CPR demonstrated the foundation’s continued commitment to improving safety in public primary schools.
The SUBEB chairman also stressed the importance of collaboration between education authorities and development organisations in creating safer learning environments for pupils.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, represented by Ojo Olaleye, conducted the first aid training, including practical guidance on responding to emergencies and administering immediate care before professional medical assistance becomes available.
Speaking during the session, Olaleye emphasised the importance of CPR knowledge, saying people should be equipped with the skills irrespective of their age, gender or religious background.
He explained that emergencies could occur without warning and that knowing how to respond appropriately could help save lives.
Olaleye also advocated the inclusion of basic first aid and CPR training in the school curriculum, saying government and school authorities had important roles to play in ensuring that pupils acquired the knowledge from an early age.
One of the students, Samson Adeogun of Islamic Mission High School, appreciated the Karim Adeyemi Foundation for its commitment to promoting safety in schools through the provision of first aid kits and practical training.
He said the initiative would help pupils acquire essential life-saving skills and improve their ability to respond appropriately to emergencies.
