Beyond driving, ride-hailing company Bolt is looking to equip up to 500 drivers with first aid and emergency response skills to help them respond appropriately to roadside incidents. In a sta
Beyond driving, ride-hailing company Bolt is looking to equip up to 500 drivers with first aid and emergency response skills to help them respond appropriately to roadside incidents. In a statement seen by Technext, the company said it was part of its Safety Ambassadors Programme, a new initiative in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
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With Bolt drivers operating across major cities and spending significant time on the road, they are uniquely positioned to potentially provide immediate assistance when accidents or other emergencies occur before professional responders arrive. The Safety Ambassadors Programme seeks to strengthen this capacity by providing drivers with the knowledge and basic tools needed to respond safely and responsibly.
The company flagged off the program with a pilot training session held in Abuja. The pilot brought together 50 Bolt drivers for practical training in basic first aid and emergency response. At the end of the session, participating drivers were presented with certificates of completion and first aid kits to support them in responding to emergencies they may encounter while on the road.
Following the successful pilot, the company aims to expand the scheme to reach driver partners across Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Ibadan, Benin, Kano and others over the coming month.
Teddy Appa-Dankyi Speaking on the initiative, Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said the company’s responsibility to safety extends beyond the experience within the vehicle.
“Our driver partners are present on roads and in communities every day, and equipping them with basic first aid and emergency response skills can help them respond appropriately when they encounter an incident. Through the Safety Ambassadors Programme, we are investing in our driver partners and giving them practical skills that can potentially make a difference in critical moments,” he said.
The First Aid and emergency response training was delivered by the Nigerian Red Cross Society, with drivers receiving practical guidance on responding to common roadside emergencies, basic first aid techniques and the appropriate steps to take while awaiting professional emergency services.
Speaking on the quality of training and the benefit of such a program targeting drivers, Managing Director of the Nigerian Red Cross Social Enterprise, Gbubemi Uba, said the Nigerian Red Cross Society is mandated to protect lives and reduce human suffering.
“Our partnership with Bolt provides an opportunity to scale and institutionalise first aid and road safety training for drivers and riders. When more people are equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately in an emergency, we can help save more lives on Nigerian roads,” Uba said.
The Bolt team The initiative forms part of Bolt’s broader commitment to strengthening safety across its platform and supporting its driver partners with practical knowledge and resources that can contribute to safer communities. The Abuja pilot is the first phase of a broader programme that Bolt plans to scale across Nigeria.
“We are pleased to partner with the Nigerian Red Cross Society on this pilot and look forward to expanding the programme to more cities across Nigeria,” Teddy Appa-Dankyi said.
