The Managing Director, Nigeria Safety Award for Excellence (9jaSAFE), Alhaji Lateef Alebiosu, has announced the commencement of the 2019 award programme.
Alebiosu made the announcement in a press conference and call for nominations held at the Institute of Safety Professionals (ISPON) National Secretariat, Ikotun, Lagos.
According to him, the annual award, which is now in its 5th edition, was envisioned to promote and raise safety consciousness.
Alebiosu, a former president of the institute, added that his HSE news publication, Safety Record newspaper, conceived the award in 2015.
Alebiosu noted that the alarming statistics of occupational accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) compelled his organisation to establish the award to recognise and celebrate safety professionals and organisations working to enhance workers’ safety, health and wellbeing.
He added, “In this year’s award, we have compressed the categories to 10, namely: CEO Award, Torchbearers Award, HSE Manager’s Award, Lifetime Award, Merit Award, Safety Product of the Year, Public Safety Award, Safe School Award, Construction Safety Award, and Manufacturing Safety Award.
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“Full descriptions for the award and judging criteria can be found on the award’s website: awards.safetyrecordng.com.
“Nominations commence on Monday, June 10, 2019.”
He urged members of the public to nominate deserving safety professionals and HSE-compliant organisations in the various categories.
Also speaking at the event, ISPON President, Dr Nnamdi Ilodiuba, said that the institute was concerned about accidents, including fire disasters, building collapse and others that continue to jeopardise the safety and health of workers.
He commended the MD of 9jaSAFE for conceiving the award to recognise those working to stem the tide of occupational accidents in the country.
Ilodiuba, who was represented by a member of the ISPON Governing Board, High Chief Innocent Okunamiri, called on the media to partner the institute to promote the safety and welfare of Nigerian workers.
The President, National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN), Mr Cletus Akhighe, lauded the organisers of 9jaSAFE for promoting the safety of workers, and called on the incoming ninth National Assembly to ensure speedy passage of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) bill.
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Akhighe, who was represented by the Vice President (South West) of the council, Engr. A.A. Oyewole, described the bill as the first step to actualise the safety of Nigerian workers.
He said, “Nigeria Occupational Safety and Health Bill is the one single most important bill for Occupational Safety and Health in Nigeria. If we must actualise a safe and healthy workplace in Nigeria, the OSH Bill has to be passed as quickly as possible.
“This bill will put the nation on the part of great success in Occupational Safety and Health.
“It is the first step in the actualisation of safe and healthy workplaces in our nation. This will help the country reduce accident to the barest minimum. It is the one piece of legislation the country needs dearly to assure safe and healthy workplaces, thereby securing the life and economy of the nation.
“We are appealing to the 9th Assembly to kindly make this bill one of their priorities and speed up the passage of the OSH bill.
“Let us all come together to appeal to the national assembly to please speedily pass this bill. Let us mobilize and make sure this bill is passed this year.”