The Institution of Occupational Safety And Health(IOSH), has stressed her commitment to support Nigeria’s transformative strategy to raise safety and health standards and improve competencies amongst professionals across the continent.
This commitment was made at the just concluded maiden edition of the IOSH West Africa Conference with the theme ” Shaping the future of Occupational Safety and Health in West Africa” held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel.
In his opening remarks the IOSH Global President, Professor Andrew Sharman, in a prerecorded video presentation said, the institution is delighted to be building on the important memorandum of collaboration it signed last year to support the development of strong workplace safety cultures promoted by businesses and government agencies.
Sharman said to sustain growth, productivity and profitability, investors and business owners worldwide are learning that they need to look after people at work and in their supply chains.
” Countries with strong safety and health at work are prospering as investors place faith in their future. ” Nigeria understands this and it’s IOSH’s great privilege to partner your Government and the Lagos State Safety Commission to enable your farsighted national strategy to reach its full potential.”
In his goodwill message, the executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, expressed his appreciation to the chartered professional body for her commitment to collaborate with the state to raise the standard of safety and health amongst her citizens.
The governor who was represented by the Director in charge of Occupational Health Services, at the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Kuburat Layeni, further said the government is worried about the high rate of work-related injuries many of whom are not accounted for. She said Nigeria does not have accurate statistics in this regard.
” I must stress that Workplace related accidents has become a major concern for employees and employers but this could be prevented if regulators and stakeholders define clearly their roles in an attempt to reduce the staggering statistics. ”
The IOSH Chief executive, Bev Messinger , explaining the body’s global vision said it is a safe and healthy world of work. She said it’s an ambition that IOSH and it’s 47000 members cannot achieve alone and as such is positioned to forge partnerships, develop strong frameworks and effect positive change for organizations working around the world.
Speaking on the impact of the conference, the IOSH Nigeria Consultant and Chief Executive of Combined Training Services, (CTS), Mrs. Funmi Adegbola, expressed her joy at the success of the maiden event most especially because the speakers were carefully selected and did justice to the issues that affected safety and health professionals and all participants.
The one day conference came to an end with participants making a commitment to take back all they have learnt to their respective organizations.
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