Ikeja: A House of Representatives member, Mr. Sulaiman Gumi, has called for stronger enforcement, investment, and cultural change to enhance occupational health and environmental safety in Nigeria. Gumi made this appeal during the International Conference and Awards on Health, Safety, Security, and Environment held in Ikeja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the two-day event, themed ‘Promoting Resilient Occupational, Governance, Risk Management, and Environmental Safety Standards (PROGRESS)’, was organized in collaboration with the World Safety Organisation (WSO), Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), and other regulatory bodies. Gumi, who is a former Chairman of the Committee on Safety Standards, emphasized that the theme serves as a blueprint urging stakeholders to integrate safety into governance, workplaces, and environmental practices.
Gumi highlighted the necessity for organizations to invest in scenario planning, business continuity, and predictive safety technologies. He underscored the importance of resilience against pandemics, climate change, and industrial hazards. As Chairman of the House Committee on the North West Development Commission, he stressed that every worker and community deserved protection from unsafe practices. He advocated for safety to evolve from being merely a compliance requirement to becoming a cultural norm.
The lawmaker called for enhanced governance to ensure that policies are effectively implemented. He warned that safety standards often fail in execution without accountability, urging the empowerment of regulators and the embrace of transparency by industries, as hidden safety reports could cost lives. He also emphasized the government’s role in prioritizing inspections and legal enforcement, urging employers to invest in their workers and encouraging civil society to demand accountability.
Dr. Soji Olalokun, Country Director of WSO Nigeria, echoed the sentiment, stating that safety should be perceived as a lifestyle rather than a compliance issue. He referenced International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics, noting that 2.7 million lives are lost globally each year to work-related incidents. Olalokun highlighted the human and economic impact of these tragedies, advocating for a proactive safety culture.
Olalokun explained that the conference aimed to educate, innovate, recognize, inspire, empower, and build capacity, providing a platform for knowledge-sharing on occupational standards. He pointed out that the event would enhance governance, risk management, and environmental safety while exploring technology and leadership in shaping effective policies. He identified weak regulation enforcement and inadequate training as major challenges in the sector, stressing the need for strong leadership frameworks.
Participants at the forum noted that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and predictive analytics could assist Nigeria in managing risks more effectively. The programme culminated in the presentation of World Safety Awards to individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment to health, safety, and environmental standards.
One of the award recipients, Amb. Maurice Odiete, President and Rector of Highstone Global University, USA, expressed that the recognition would encourage further improvements in workplace safety. ‘This validates our years of effort in creating safer workspaces. It will also motivate us to deepen our safety culture going forward,’ he stated.