iRAP Safer Journeys Lead for Africa Nathalie Chiavassa was delighted to present to journalists yesterday in an online UN Decade of Action Media Capacity Building Event hosted by Nigerian NGO Road Accident Prevention Network (RAPNEC).

The training entitled “The Role of the Media in Accelerating the Domestication and Implementation of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030” included Nathalie sharing how the iRAP Methodology is informing media advocacy for safer roads and helping partners in Nigeria and beyond to save lives and prevent serious injuries due to road crashes.’

Nathalie shared a number of valuable evidence-based iRAP tools that can support journalists’ research and advocacy including:

• iRAP Safety Insights Explorer – An online data tool sharing the Vaccines for Roads – exploring how safe the world’s and countries’ roads are, the human impact of road traffic injury, the road attributes that matter, and the Business Case for Safer Roads.
• Road Safety Toolkit – An online and award-winning website providing free information on the causes and prevention of serious road crashes, and resources to support practitioners.
• RAPTools – Infrastructure safety management tools that make use of the iRAP methodology for crash data insights, infrastructure safety ratings, trauma estimation, investment planning, star rating for designs, network scanning, performance tracking, policy management, and enabling software.

Additional guest speakers included:

• Mr Rotimi Aroge, Public Speaker, Business Developer, Public Analyst and Principal Consultant to RAPNEC
• Prince Ache Julius Ogu, President and Founder of RAPNEC
• Mr Adegunwagun Adekunle, CMILT Consultant
• Prof R K Gorea Phd, Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine, Diplomate National Board
• Mrs Chinwe Nwagbute, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Tranportation Commissioners Forum
• Mr Clement Isong, Executive Secretary and CEO, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN)
• Mr ChorrieI Muta’a, Corps and Sector Commander, FCT Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

In addition to iRAP’s presentation, insights were shared on road crashes in Nigeria, the commitment of the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners Forum and MOMAN to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, RAPNEC’s work to advocate for safer roads, and the media challenge in the 21st century.

RAPNEC is a non-governmental, non-political organization that strives to save lives and property on Nigerian roads. Hosting of the two day event from 11-12 September is just one of the ways the NGO is working with local, regional and international partners to reduce the road trauma burden in the country.

For further information on the event and shared learnings, email rapnec@gmail.com