Ikeja: The Environment and Safety Management Institute (ESMI) has inducted 43 fellows to promote environmental sustainability and safety across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 16th ESMI induction ceremony was held on Thursday at Ikeja to certify more professionals in the environment and safety sectors. NAN also reports that the 43 fellows were inducted as members and associates of the institute, respectively.
The ESMI National President, Mr. Martin Iorsamber, emphasized the necessity of environmental sustainability to improve the economic realities of the country. He highlighted the challenges faced by Nigeria, including environmental degradation, unsafe industrial practices, and worsening climate vulnerabilities, despite its natural resources, youth population, and expanding private sector.
Iorsamber noted that these challenges pose threats to economic stability, public safety, and sustainable growth, asserting that Nigeria’s economic prosperity is intertwined with environmental responsibility. He reflected on the theme of the induction ceremony, ‘Environmental Safety and Economic Development in Nigeria,’ as a call to action for safe environmental practices.
He encouraged the new inductees to be catalysts of safety and environmental sustainability, stressing the importance of their role in making Nigeria a safe, productive, and globally competitive nation. Iorsamber described environmental safety as an investment, not a cost, aimed at improving safety standards and reducing losses in key economic sectors.
Mrs. Evelyn Agu, the ESMI Registrar, urged the inductees to approach their duties of environmental sustainability with professionalism. She emphasized that the gathering was not only to celebrate professional advancement but also to reaffirm the commitment to environmental protection and safety management as drivers of national development.
Agu highlighted the centrality of environmental sustainability in economic agendas, stating that true economic growth cannot be sustained without a safe and healthy environment. She called upon the inductees to be ambassadors of sustainable practice across industries, communities, and institutions in Nigeria, ensuring that development does not compromise future generations.
She urged the inductees to uphold the values of competence, ethics, and responsibilities, positioning them as proactive agents of change. Agu expressed confidence in transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth through collaborative efforts.