By Vivian Onyebukwa
For the very first time the global activities that accompany International Labour Day (ILO) of safety and health of workers was extended to Imo State, courtesy of Media Center for Promotion of Safety Awareness, MCPoSA, publishers of Safety & SecurityWatch magazine.
April 28 of each year is declared by International Labour Organisation as world day for safety and health at work. It is a day used to review and appraise occupational safety to ensure a safe work environment and safety of workers.
While a state like Lagos is awash every April 28 with various activities commemorative of this day, Abuja courtesy of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and a handful of others also mark this day. Rivers State once in a while pick a leaf from Lagos to do something about the day. However, one thing is certain, most organisations that have a safety department often mark this day in-house.
Safety&SecurityWatch magazine based in Lagos keyed into this advocacy since 2014 marking it in a very stylish way. In addition to a talk on a domesticated global theme, SSWatch uses the day to appreciate safety efforts by individual professionals and organisations through its Nigeria Safety and Security (NSAS) awards and lecture.
The 10th edition of the event took place in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and in grand style. The lecture with the theme, “A safe and healthy workplace is critical to sustainable development’, was handled by Dr. Sylvester Adikwanduaba of Nekede Polytechnics, Owerri, Imo State.
The chairman of the occasion, Chijioke Ahumaraeze, in his opening remarks appreciated the MCPOSA team and choice of making Imo State a part of the global event in 2023 while encouraging them to do more for the state. According to him, safety is indeed critical in sustainable development.
The special guest, Ike C. Ibe, formerly of Imo House of Assembly aptly termed the event as being in line with the most soughted “aku ruo ulo” (bringing home whatever you are known for elsewhere in the world), as founder and executive director of MCPOSA, Dr. Chinyere Amaechi, is an indigene of the state. He further stated that the 10th edition is merely the beginning of the future editions that will henceforth hold in the state. He also described as a masterpiece the lecture delivered by Dr. Adikwanduaba, as he urged all who heard to use the lesson from it to improve their safety profile.
He reminded the awardees that the reward for hard work is more work hence they must not rest on their oars.
A member of MCPOSA Board of Trustees (BoT) and a one-time managing director of Champion Newspapers, Ugo Onuoha, while applauding the efforts of MCPOSA in the last 10 years, which he also said has been tough at some points, pledged its continued presence in the state if given the enabling environment to continue.
On her part, Dr Chinyere Amaechi pledged the commitment of the non- governmental organization to safety and anywhere the impact of safety is required. She appealed to the audience drawn from accross the nation to cooperate with MCPOSA to ensure a safe and secure Nigeria as, according to her, everyone is a stakeholder.
High point of the event is the unveiling of NSAS ambassadors being her awardees from inception till 2022.
Some of the guests were inducted as ambassadors. They include the former House of Assembly member, Ike C. Ibe, Ugo Onuoha, Ahumaraeze, and Charles Onyewu, an ardent follower of the event.
A total of 18 Awards were given to 14 in individual category and four in corporate category.
While director of security services, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Group Captain Usman Sodiq, clinched the Outstanding Security Man of the Year, Anambra State Fire Service took home the Fire Service of the Year Award.