The Ibassa Ijegun Egba Youth Association in Ibasa/Ijegun-Egba Oguntedo Opetedo Satellite riverine town of Lagos State presented 155 lifejackets to students of the area.
Speaking during the presentation on Wednesday at Ibassa Ijegun-Egba, the chairman of the association, Mr Kareem Idowu, said the aim of the was to ensure the safety of students who ply waterways daily on their way to Schools.
Idowu said the lifejackets were donated to the association by a tank farm, AA Rano Nig. Ltd and Ranogaz Company Limited as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community.
“Today it is my privilege to appear before you and help celebrate a major achievement in the quest to adequately protect our students from the riverine area of Lagos state.
“With the assistance of our corporate partners, AA Rano Nig. Ltd., and Ranogaz Company Ltd., 155 students will be giving lifejackets as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) demonstration on the part of our benefactor.
“We are pleased to announce that 155 students from various schools in Ibassa Ijegun-Egba a riverine area of Lagos will benefit from this CSR initiative.
“These students live in Ibassa Ijegun Egba, Satellite town Oriade LCDA, Lagos State, where waterways are often the primary means of transportation.
“This donation will enhance their safety as they commute daily across the rivers, ensuring that these young lives are protected as they pursue their education,” he said.
The Secretary of the Association, Mr Olusegun Wakili, said the lifejackets were donated to the association by some of the tank farms within the community as part of their CSR.
“The existence of the tank farms within our community has been of major interest to youths.
“As much as the construction and operations of the tank farms have brought job opportunities and economic growth within our community many youths then sense that the relationship should be deeper and more symbiotic.
“The donation of lifejackets by some of the tank farm operators has always added positive impact to the community.
“AA Rano Nig. Ltd. and Ranogaz Nig. Ltd. have always been showing commitment in terms of CSR and are always ready to collaborate with the youth of the community.
“This gesture has marked the readiness of some of the tank farm operators to respect the people’s needs within our community, especially in ensuring the safety of the vulnerable in society.
“The association is urging other tank farms within these communities to emulate this gesture by extending their hands of assistance to them,” he said.
The Operation Manager, Ranogaz Nig. Ltd., Mr Daniel Jombo, said the donation of the lifejackets was their CSR to ensure the safety of pupils, students plying the waterways.
“Our corporate social responsibility is to ensure that all the fishermen, villagers and traders are given lifejackets to ensure that their individual life at sea is assured.
“This is just the beginning as we are going to collaborate with the youth to see what we can always do to ensure that progress continues to reign as we strive towards stability,” he said.
Addressing the students, HSE Manager, Rano Nig. Ltd., Mr Lukuman Sanyaolu, urged the students to make the best use of the jackets.
According to him, It is not about using it, it is about using it properly, apart from using it properly you need to know how to handle it so you will take care of it.
One of the students who benefited from the free lifejackets, Elizabeth Daniel, said that it would keep them safe on waterways.
She commended the association and the tank farm for extending their hands to students in the riverine community through the donation of the lifejackets.
The event was graced by other members of the association, parents, teachers, representatives of the tank farms, and residents of the communities.
