The pace-setting Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has expressed its readiness to support the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) towards reducing the alarming rate of road accidents in Ekiti state in particular and in Nigeria in general.
Speaking while receiving to the new FRSC Corps Commander, Barrister Stanley Chinedum in his office, ABUAD’s Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, said the move is part of the university’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at ensuring the safety of road users and curb the un-salutary consequences of loss of innocent lives and billions of Naira in both ambulatory and non-ambulatory properties round the country.
Babalola said his university will support the Corps in all ways possible at enhancing its capacity on educating drivers, motorists and other members of the public on the proper and safe use of highways, particularly as he sees the FRSC as one of the most viable, effective and efficient public institutions in Nigeria whose contributions towards enhancing the safety of road users cannot and should not be underestimated.
The legal icon expressed concern at the alarming increase in the rate of road accidents and therefore called on relevant stakeholders and corporate organizations to accord the FRSC the much needed support to reduce carnage on our roads.
Babalola, who encouraged the FRSC to organize a Capacity Building Workshop for ABUAD staff to further enrich their skills, described Road Safety Management as a veritable tool for national development.
Earlier in his remarks, Chinedum said he was in ABUAD to intimate its Founder of the various activities of the Corps during and after the “ember months” to which he invited the university to participate fully.
He noted that his posting to the state coincided with the “ember months” and that the Command has begun a Public Enlightenment Campaign as drivers and passengers were being sensitized on the need to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations.
According to Chinedum, the Corps has maintained constant surveillance on all roads in the state to that traffic offenders are apprehended and punished while victims of road crashes are given immediate medical attention.
The Ekiti State FRSC boss who noted that the Corps has also commenced e-booking to facilitate easy booking of motorists who violate traffic rules, lauded Babalola’s various humanitarian contributions to the growth of the society and described him as a man of many parts who has given tertiary education in Nigeria a face-lift and a new face.