…to represent Nigeria at VIA Africa Finals
Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has emerged winner of the 2026 VIA Safe Mobility for All Young People Competition in Nigeria.
The school won the National Finals held in Lagos on October 14, 2026, emerging ahead of eight other schools following a presentation that highlighted road safety challenges in its school and community and proposing practical solutions.
The school will now represent Nigeria at the VIA Africa Finals scheduled for December 2, 2026.
As national winner, GGSS Rumueme received a cash prize of ₦1 million at an award presentation ceremony held at the TotalEnergies Office in Port Harcourt.
The VIA Safe Mobility for All Young People Programme is supported in Nigeria by NNPC Limited and TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, under the TotalEnergies Foundation’s global VIA Programme.
Presenting the award, the Executive Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Obi Imemba, who read the address of the Managing Director, expressed the company’s satisfaction with the school’s performance.
He said the VIA Safe Mobility for All Young People initiative was established to give young people, particularly schoolchildren, the opportunity to speak out on the road safety hazards they encounter during their daily journeys to and from school.
According to him, the programme also seeks to empower students to become
ambassadors of safe mobility in their schools and communities.
“This VIA Safe Mobility for All Young People was created to hear the voices of those most impacted by the various hazards experienced on their daily journeys to school, and to also encourage schoolchildren to become ambassadors of their own safe
mobility.
“It is done by equipping them with the skills to identify dangers in their daily commuting to and from school, raise awareness in their immediate communities, developrecommendations and implement them independently or in collaboration with appropriate parties,” he said.
Imemba challenged the students to sustain their winning spirit by emerging victorious at the African Finals. He also assured the school of TotalEnergies’ continued support as it prepares for the next stage of the competition.
He further expressed optimism that the partnership involving TotalEnergies, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), schools and other stakeholders under the initiative would contribute to safer roads, particularly for schoolchildren who commute daily.
The Acting General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), TotalEnergies, Mrs. Tonye Osifo, described the school’s victory as a remarkable achievement, noting
that the performance of the students at the National Finals was impressive.
“And I will tell you that on that day, everybody was wowed by the work of these young ladies,” she said.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Francis Ajatta, represented by Mr. Uzoma Jamaica, commended TotalEnergies for organising the 2026 VIA Safe Mobility Competition.
He described the initiative as timely and relevant to efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and promote a safer road environment for all, particularly children and young people.
Jamaica stressed that road safety was a collective responsibility requiring the
commitment of government institutions, schools, parents, communities, transport
operators, civil society organisations and young people.
He identified early education and awareness as effective tools for building a sustainable road safety culture, noting that children who acquire road safety knowledge early in life are more likely to become responsible road users.
“When children understand the importance of road safety behaviours from an early age, they are better positioned to become responsible pedestrians, passengers, cyclists and eventually responsible drivers,” he said.
In her remarks, the Principal of GGSS Rumueme, Dr. Nkiru Ekekwe, expressed
appreciation to TotalEnergies for providing the platform for the students to demonstrate their creativity and knowledge of road safety.
She also thanked the company for the ₦1 million prize and its commitment to supporting the school as it prepares to represent Nigeria at the VIA Africa Finals.
The VIA Safe Mobility for All Young People is implemented in Nigeria by GreenLight Initiative, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to road safety awareness and community
mobilisation.
