The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, ISPON, is intensifying calls for stronger nationwide collaboration to tackle accidents, unsafe practices and the growing activities of unqualified safety practitioners across the country.
Speaking ahead of the institute’s 12th anniversary celebration scheduled for Friday in Warri, Delta State, ISPON President, Dr. Stephen Udezi, said government agencies, schools, artisans, media organisations and professional bodies must work together to build a stronger safety culture in Nigeria.
At a news conference in Lagos, Dr. Udezi warned that poor safety awareness and weak compliance continue to fuel preventable deaths in workplaces and public spaces, urging state governments to establish safety commissions similar to the Lagos model and involve ISPON in accident investigations to improve data collection and prevention strategies.
He also proposed the introduction of safety education from kindergarten to secondary school level, saying early exposure would help raise more safety-conscious citizens and reduce dangerous practices among young people and workers.
As part of efforts to deepen public awareness, the ISPON President announced plans to take safety campaigns directly to markets, workshops and communities nationwide through partnerships with artisans’ associations, tertiary institutions and the media, while discounted safety training is also being considered for artisans.
Dr. Udezi further stressed that only certified and registered ISPON members are legally recognised to practise as safety professionals in Nigeria under the ISPON Act.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Chairman of ISPON, Mr. Olusola Ogunleye, said collaboration between the institute and the Lagos State Safety Commission has strengthened enforcement and improved safety standards across the maritime, aviation and manufacturing sectors.
According to him, aviation operators and manufacturers are increasingly embracing ISPON certification and professional training, while joint enforcement efforts in Lagos are helping to improve compliance with safety regulations.
The anniversary celebration with the theme “Health and Safety Management in Nigeria: Prospects and Retrospects,” is expected to feature technical sessions focused on improving public safety and advancing professional standards nationwide.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen