Students from nine secondary schools across Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have showcased innovative ideas to address Nigeria’s road safety challenges at the National Finals of the 2025 VIA Programme for Safe Mobility.

The event held in Lagos brought together students who had emerged as winners from state-level competitions earlier in the year. Over the past months, more than 600 students from 30 public secondary schools participated in the programme, which included classroom sessions, risk-mapping walks, and advocacy campaigns designed to raise awareness about road safety challenges in their communities.

The schools represented at the final included: Community Secondary School, Rumuokwurushi; Model Girls Secondary School, Mgodo, Aluu; Government Girls Secondary School, Orominieke; Government Secondary School, Orozo; Army Day Secondary School, Asokoro; Government Secondary School, Jiwa; Ikotun Senior High School; Ajumoni Senior Grammar School; and Amuwo Odofin Community Senior Secondary School.

The VIA Programme, launched in Nigeria in May 2025 by TotalEnergies Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is supported by the TotalEnergies Foundation and implemented locally by the GreenLight Initiative.

Representing the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, the Lagos State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, underscored the importance of youth participation in tackling the scourge of road crashes.

In his opening speech, Mohammed said the programme presented another avenue and opportunity to advance the collective quest to create safer roads, nurture responsible road users and build a culture of safe mobility that protects lives and promotes sustainable development for our dear country.

“This gathering is not just a competition, it is a convergence of months-long ideas, innovation, and youthful creativity aimed at confronting one of the most pressing challenges of our time — road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, said the company’s support for the programme reflected its commitment to protecting children and reducing preventable road tragedies.

“This initiative was created to encourage schoolchildren to become ambassadors of safe mobility by equipping them with skills to identify and navigate dangers in their daily commute,” Bouyer explained.

The winning school would represent Nigeria at the regional finals scheduled to begin on November 25, 2025, with the possibility of advancing to the International VIA finals on December 2.