The Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI) is the CSR project of Ulomka Multi Solutions run by Ugochi Obidiegwu also known as The Safety Chic. This initiative has trained over 4000 children in Nigeria  and Ghana on different aspects of safety. This is done through direct training, book reading sessions  and  a movie day for teenagers.

In the last few days, the train was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and students of 5 schools numbering almost 1000 got trained on some aspects of the company’s in-house curriculum on safety for children. The schools who benefitted from the initiative are: Air Force Comprehensive School, St Michael public primary school, Monef Kiddies School, Handmaid Prince of Peace School and St Patrick public primary school. We also got a chance to teach the teachers how to use a fire extinguisher.

According to The Safety Chic, “These are the little things that make me happy. That one day a child would be in a situation and not be stuck because they have an idea of how to protect themselves”.

Would you like to work with us or support us to reach more children? Send a message to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com

We love collaborating.

The Lagos residents of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Nigeria Cohort 1 visited the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun. The visit was intended to give the boys training in specialised areas, provide academic and welfare supplies and inspire them.

I was given the opportunity to provide some aspects of the Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI) for them. The boys were taught the basics of fire safety, personal safety and road safety. The boys were very intelligent and disciplined. The kind of questions they asked showed an understanding of what they were learning. They also got the chance to thrill us with their talent. They are an amazing lot. Contrary to perception, not all of them are there for wrongdoing. Some are there whilst waiting for the Courts to decide custody between parents or parental decision because of their stubborness and others were rescued from the streets.

Due to the laws at the facility, we couldn’t take pictures with the faces of the kids but back view was allowed. The boys have diverse areas of interest. Some want to be musicians, pilots, engineers and there are a few who can code. Amazing right? We can help the society by helping to keep hope alive for these boys. You could contribute in cash, welfare or academic supplies or better still based on your expertise, mentor them on your career path. Practical lessons are very valuable. Let us work together to help these boys achieve their dreams. Remember, they are going to be re-introduced into the wider society. Do we want wiz kids ready to make impact or do we want societal menace?

One of the major causes of accidents in the workplace is the human factor. This means even if everything functions well: the machines, provision of adequate breaks, presence of proper systems in place, if the individual involved does not comply with safety rules, accidents will still happen. Unfortunately, in this part of the world we tend to say “God forbid” more without putting adequate structures in place. We are not used to complying and it’s no wonder because it is not something that is consciously ingrained in us. From observation, people who are used to complying with safety rules either work in a workplace that takes safety seriously or have family and friends who do so.

However, as we all know, accidents can happen anywhere, any time and on any type of job. It is therefore important to begin to take safety education seriously. The Goal 4 of the SDGs implies that quality education should prepare tomorrow’s work force. Therefore we do not have to wait till people become employees before ingraining safety skills in them. They should be taught from childhood such that it becomes only natural to make the safe choice. It should be a part of the school curriculum because most habits taken into adulthood are mostly developed in the formative stages. This will help us build a society with reduced emphasis on human factor as being the major cause of accidents.

This observation led to the Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI) started by Ulomka Multi Solutions Limited as a way of giving back to the society. It is done monthly across schools in different locations. Last week, staff of Ulomka Multi Solutions Limited led by Obianuju Nwadialor visited Okota Senior Secondary School, Okota to share some safety knowledge with the students. Students were taught basic safety skills: personal safety, fire safety, road safety and first aid. This is a mission to take safety education to schools and we strongly believe that all students hould have access to it.

Ulomka Multi Solutions Limited was also represented at the Round-table discussion organised by the One African Child Foundation in commemoration of its third anniversary. The event took place at the Mainland High School, Yaba in celebration of the Universal Children’s Day. The Managing Partner, Ugochi Obidiegwu had the opportunity to share her views on the importance of introducing safety education into the school curriculum. She also shared basic information to the students on fire safety.

Would you like your school to be a part of the Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI)? Send an email to hello@thesafetychic.com