Int’l Children’s Day: IBEDC Takes Awareness On Electricity Safety Campaign To Osun Schools

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Determined to curb incidences of electrocution and other electrical hazards, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Plc (IBEDC) has taken its awareness campaigns to schools aimed at sensitizing pupils on the dangers of misapplying electricity.

CityMirrorNews reports that the sensitisation programs is part of the activities marking this year International Children’s Day. It also co-incides with the Company’s safety sensitization activities earmarked for the commemoration of the just concluded World Day for Safety and Health.

The campaign is aimed at orientating school children who are seen as the “leaders of tomorrow” at the early stage of their lives on electrical safety and electricity distribution operations.

The IBEDC Staff led by the Regional Head, Osun, Engr Adeniyi Adeleke stormed the Osogbo Grammar School where hundreds of the students thronged the venue in high enthusiasm.

Speaking on behalf of the the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Engr. John Ayodele, Engr Adeniyi Adeleke said the need to educate children on imbibing a positive health and safety culture should not be taken for granted. As cultivating the lessons on how to maintain safety around electricity early will not only save their lives, but it will also forestall lifelong injuries.

“We are strategically embarking on these sensitization visits of some public schools across our franchise to equip children with the safety skill set that will change their orientation about electricity safety and make them act proactively, because as we know, prevention is better than cure, IBEDC as a socially responsible corporate entity with education at the core of its CSR thrust, then decided that, in addition to our annual donation of school materials and fees to some indigent students, we will leverage the Children’s Day celebration as a platform to teach children on safety” Engr. Ayodele said.

Speaking further, Engr. Adeleke said IBEDC is committed to upholding global safety standards, as well as sustaining the health and safety culture the company has built over the years through continuous internal endeavors and collaborations with external safety agencies.

“It is against this backdrop that we organized various programs aimed at institutionalizing the safety culture within our business and the people we serve, namely Essay Competition, 1st Responder trainings, Technical workshop and colloquium, courtesy visits to critical stakeholders etc., to commemorate the 2022 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This is to further position us for the safety challenges and best practices of the 21st century.

Echoing a similar views, Engr Salam Akinloye, Technical Engineer, IBEDC, Osogbo said the company decided to adopt the approach of “training up a child in the way he/she should go, so that when he/she grows, he/she will never depart from it”.

“We need to train and educate our children in the right direction on the use of electricity, especially for their safety anywhere they are”, He said.

Akinloye said that the campaign is also an avenue for the children to understand how the electricity they make use of works, how it is generated and transmitted, the dos and don’ts, and some of the reasons why there are power outages.

“We are happy we are positively impacting on the lives of our children and we are optimistic that with this, electrical accidents amongst children in homes and outside the homes will be drastically reduced if not extinguished”

CityMirrorNews reports that the students of Osogbo Grammar School, where the sensitisation Program took place were enthusiastic and exhibited much interest in the program, expressing happiness over what they were taught. The teachers were also not left out as learning is a continuum.

Some of the school children shared their experiences where they had severe electric shocks while carrying out chores or playing at home, or while trying to change over supply. Hence, the need to provide them with the appropriate orientation and save them from these hazardous conditions which they are exposed to daily.