Cornerstone partners FRSC on “Safe Route to School” campaign
Underwriting firm, Cornerstone Insurance Plc has partnered with Federal Road Safety Corps Zone 2, Lagos to launch a project aimed at reducing student related casualties on the roads en-route to school.
The campaign tagged “Safe Route to School” is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Cornerstone and it focuses on the provision and maintenance of safety infrastructures in schools’ high risk passage ways in different parts of the Lagos metropolis.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the “Safe Route to School” campaign roadshow in Lagos which took off at Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, the Group Managing Director, represented by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Ayo Osunbunmi said.
“As a company which takes pride in operating ethically and transparently in other to earn the confidence and trust of its stakeholders, Cornerstone Insurance is pleased to continue in a lifesaving journey we started three years ago with a credible institution like FRSC to constantly pursue innovative ways to respond to the society’s biggest safety challenge”.
He said “There has been a deep concern about the soaring rate of road crashes in the country involving school children who are the most vulnerable member of the society. Citing a recent survey which shows thatat least a child gets knocked down every day by unwary drivers en-route to school and with 80% of such incidences linked to lack of adequate road signs and recklessness of our drivers, he stressed the need for decisive actions to save lives of the kids and our own future.
Cornerstone Insurance Plc through the “Safe Route to School” campaign over the last one and half years has provided Zebra Crossings and Illuminating Children Crossing Signs in scores of schools across Lagos. The company has also significantly invested in the training of school appointees as institutional safety officers, whilst it also supports the creation of road safety clubs to foster good road habits and safety culture among the pupils.
Nseobong Akpabioin, Assistant Corps Marshal, Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 2, Lagos, in his remarks applauded the collaboration between the two organizations and assured of ‘on the spot’ safety sensitization by FRSC marshals along the school corridors to ensure safety compliance by all road users. He maintained that safety advocacy is the duty of everyone and enjoined all stakeholders to continue to work together with the corps to ensure that children are protected on the road at all times
The roadshow which rounded up at Chrisland High school, Opebi had in attendance other stakeholders like representatives of Ministries of education and transport, Nigeria Security and CivilDefense Corps (NSCDC), National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Union of Road and Transport Workers.
(NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Celebrity Corps Marshals, NYSC Road Safety Club, School principals and their pupils.