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The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) today, Friday conferred the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Mele Kyari, and Inspector of General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Others with the Fellowship of the institute at the 38th Professional Development Conference (PDC) in Owerri.
The PDC has as its theme, “Mainstreaming Safety for Sustainable Development”.
Ilodiuba said, “A regular feature at this annual festival of like minds is the recognition of hardworking and committed members of the Institute as well as eminent personalities who have in one way or the other performed remarkably in their various offices and places of endeavour to promote the course of Safety directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly.
“This year, we shall at the appropriate time, confer the Institute’s Fellowship on twenty (20) prominent and deserving personalities.
“The new distinguished Fellows of the Institute include the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. (Mele) Kyari, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, the Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Imo State, and a host of others.”
The ISPON President noted that despite the challenging security situation and tense socio-economic and political climate in the country, the institute had recorded “modest” achievements in the past year.
As I stated in my address last year, the Institute has not only broken new grounds in the States of the Federation, we have also consolidated our position in the various States,” Ilodiuba said.
“In line with the provisions of the ISPON Act, Branch Coordinators have been appointed. The HSE training courses have been fairly regular at the State Branches.
“We have maintained the momentum in our outreach and public awareness programmes at State and national levels.
“All these have resulted expectedly in heightened level of safety awareness among the populace and interest in membership of the Institute.”
The ISPON President disclosed that no less than 200 newly-admitted members would be inducted into the institute during the course of the PDC.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the institute was currently working with the Imo and Anambra State Governments towards establishing Safety Bureaus in the states.
This, he said, was in the institute’s quest to instill safety in the consciousness of the people.
“At the institutional level, we have continued to make inroads in our linkage programmes with national and international organisations,” Ilodiuba added.
“In the course of the year, ISPON had the honour of interfacing with a visiting team of the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) in Abuja under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“The forum provided the ground to discuss issues of bilateral interest, cardinal among which were technical/training aid and capacity building as well as institutional partnership and cooperation.
“Earlier on, ISPON had articulated an abridged position paper for presentation to the Federal Government at a proposed courtesy visit to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The visit had been scheduled and rescheduled a number of times owing to Mr. President’s tight schedules. It is still on the cards though.
“ISPON is also engaging with the Heads of the Federal Government’s N-Power Project and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on proposals for partnership and for nation-wide training of participants of the two important youth catchment organisations.”
However, Ilodiuba lamented the infighting plaguing the institute, noting that he remained committed to his promise made last year to bring an end to it.
He said, “In the face of these laudable achievements, we cannot pretend that all is well in the Institute.
“We are still grappling with the in-fighting plaguing the Institute. Last year I did promise to do all within my ability to bring an end to all the wrangling and I have not gone back on my words.
“Despite the numerous court judgements in favour of the Institute, I and the Governing Board have been very open and disposed to dialogue and reconciliation.
“Several meetings have been held and moves are still on-going to reconcile and re-unite the erring members with the rest of the family.
“I wish to assure you once again that no effort will be spared towards bringing lasting peace to the Institute.
“In doing this however, we shall always be forthright and uncompromising in protecting the sanctity of the ISPON Act which we fought so hard to get and which remains the grand norm of the Institute.
“I seize this opportunity to call on members on the other side to eschew their differences and retrace their steps back to the fold. Together we will form a strong, focused and progressive professional organisation.”
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