Safety: LASWA trains 300 students in swimming

The general manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has said that the agency has trained 300 students over the past three years to reduce the number of children drowning in Nigerian waters.

Emmanuel made the reveal during the third edition of LASWA’s advocacy program tagged “The Lagos Water Savvy Kids Program,” which was held in conjunction with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Dolphin Swim School in Epe, Lagos.

The general manager said training in swimming would help reduce the number of children drowning in water accidents and improve the use of water transport.

Emmanuel said the training was designed to teach students water confidence by giving them theoretical and practical knowledge about waterway safety, swimming skills and basic survival techniques in an emergency.

He said: “A total of 50 students from five public schools in riverine communities in the Epe axis of Lagos were selected to participate in this year’s edition.

“With this training, schoolchildren who use water transport will have more self-confidence, be aware of their safety and be self-reliant in case of emergency.

“There is a need to increase swimming culture among children and we have felt it appropriate to bring this to public schools and all departments of the state.

“Children’s swimming training is not only done by Lagos State Waterways Authority, the Sports Commission is also involved.

“A call has been made to all stakeholders to raise awareness and encourage swimming culture and ensure that there are always water guards around the pools.

“This is the third edition and we have taken the exercise to Ibeshe, Ojo and Epe.”

The LASWA boss promised to continue involving schools, teachers and parents to understand that the program is safe and advisable from a health point of view.

He promised to look into involving teachers along rivers in the training.

The Minister of Education, Epe Local Government Mr. Idowu Shittu praised LASWA for organizing the swimming program for students.

The representative of SUBEB in Epe, Mrs. Temidayo Oyeniran, expressed her gratitude for the swimming training for the children and advocated for it to be extended to teachers.

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