FIC (Abia State) – In line with the Federal Government’s Policy On Safety and Awareness,a Non Governmental Agency known as the Occupational Safety and Health Association(OSHA) UK, Nigeria Region, Abia State Chapter has unveiled her Special Safety Ambassadors to drive awareness and safety advocacy to rural communities across the State.
Speaking at the OSHA Summit 2022 held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia with the Theme: “Responsibilities of Stakeholders Towards Promoting Safety, Health and Security at Workplace”, a Consultant and Public Physician, Dr. Charles Ibeawuchi said their operations are to promote safety and save lives.
He , however, charged them to revive the culture of safety and enlighten the populace in the area as well as liaise with sister Agencies to close the gaps between safety challenges and recommend safety hazards threats to the appropriate authorities.
Ibeawuchi who described the initiative as timely and commended the Abia state Government for promoting the development of professional best practices on occupational safety and health service delivery in societies and industries.
In her Presentation titled: “Cyber Security”, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Janet Agbede urged citizens to develop consciousness to cyber security and online transactions on mobile devices to avoid unauthorized system access by third parties which may lead to data manipulation and financial losses.
Agbede, represented by the HOD, Information Communication Technology of the Nigerian Police, Abia State Command, Mr. Okeke Moses harped on the need for citizens to secure their electronic information architecture and to provide basic mitigations against cyber vulnerabilities.
The Regional President, OSH Association UK-Nigeria Region, Amb. Olusegun Aderemi, in his speech, harped on the need for citizens to understand the importance of safety, engagement of mental alertness and safety compliance and security in work places, public and private sectors.
He attributed the high level of Safety among Nigerians to not being Security Conscious of their environment.
He expressed deep concerns on the current insecurity experienced in various parts of the country with attendant loss of lives and property and called on Stakeholders to rise to the responsibility of ensuring that the message of safety reaches all nooks and crannies of the state.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of OSHA, Engr. Jude Igwe described this Year’s Theme as apt and enjoined all to fully participate as “there is no room for sitting on the fence”.
The 2022 OSHA Summit chaired by former Abia State Safety and Management Agency, ASPIMSS Manager, Kingsley Megwara said his experience as the Administrator of the State Safety Agency was saddled with the challenges of maintaining and sustaining the lives of accident victims to the last Health care facility.
The event featured goodwill messages, presentations by Stakeholders and Award of Fellowship Investiture to deserving Members of the Association.
Earlier, in his remarks, the State Chairman of the Association, Prof.Jude Chibuzor Igwe said the Theme of the event was apt as the State and Country are experiencing dangers of insensitivity owing to the number of the flood victims in Kogi State.
He maintained that the issue of insecurity should be everyone’s business, “Therefore this Year’s Summit is clearly telling us that there is no more room for sitting on the fence” A chain is only as long as the weakest link”.
High Points of the event was the public presentation of the unveiling of the Safety Ambassadors of the Association in the State as well as the Investiture of Fellows, Induction of New Members and other Awards including the Award to Engr. Prof. CDR. Ezenwa Alfred Ogbonnaya, Prof. Dr. Awa Madu James , RTN. Chief Chidi Nkem- Aruoma, Dr. Obioma Okorie of Obioma Enterprises Ltd, a leading Distribution Outlet in South East, Student Member Inductees and Associate Member Inductee.
Okugo Nwadiuto Mabel
