Abuja: The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has called on institutions in the country to shift from reactive responses to preventive, forward-looking strategies in risk management. Walson-Jack made the call in Abuja at the 15th Annual Risk Professionals International Conference, organized by the Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria (CILRM).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference, themed ‘Turning Risks into Opportunities: Preventive Instead of Reactive Responses’, emphasized the need for a national transformation and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world. Represented by Dr. Kalba Usman, Permanent Secretary, Common Service Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Walson-Jack stated that foresight and strategic readiness are defining qualities of progressive nations.
She commended the gathering of risk professionals, noting that their participation is both a professional commitment and a patriotic contribution to Nigeria’s stability and prosperity. By interrogating risks and designing preventive frameworks, practitioners play decisive roles in strengthening national institutions.
Walson-Jack also lauded the institute for its leadership over the past 15 years, acknowledging that its conferences have enhanced professional competence, deepened intellectual engagement, and supported stronger governance systems in both public and private sectors. She urged participants to engage boldly and innovatively, emphasizing that the outcomes of the conference should lead to tangible transformation across ministries, departments, agencies, industries, and communities.
Earlier, Dr. Harriet Akubuiro, President and Chairman of the Governing Council, CILRM, encouraged practitioners to embrace proactive strategies that transform risks into opportunities rather than responding reactively after damages have occurred. She explained that the theme was chosen to shift practitioners’ focus from perceiving risk solely as danger, loss, or threat, to recognizing its potential to deliver positive outcomes when managed proactively.
Dr. Martina Macpherson, President, International Certified Risk Management Professionals, UK, who spoke virtually, urged managers to embed prevention into their culture. She emphasized that being proactive drives success and stressed the need to translate insights into impact by turning risk into success. Macpherson encouraged participants to invest in skills and standards through continuous learning for optimal development.