Nigeria Losing N500b to Industrial Accidents – VC FUL
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Olayemi Akinwumi says industrial accidents in Nigeria is threatening productivity, making the country to lose N500b every year. Professor Akinwumi disclosed this in his keynote address on Friday during the official launching of Centre for Safety management of the institution, with the theme: “strengthening Capacity for […]
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Olayemi Akinwumi says industrial accidents in Nigeria is threatening productivity, making the country to lose N500b every year.
Professor Akinwumi disclosed this in his keynote address on Friday during the official launching of Centre for Safety management of the institution, with the theme: “strengthening Capacity for Safe and Sustainable Industrialisation; a strategic imperative for 21st century.”
He said as the nation continue to pursue national goals in energy, construction, agriculture and manufacturing, it’s being confronted with various forms of industrial hazard and accidents.
“Every year, Nigeria loses over N500b to industrial accidents. A staggering 63 percent of our workforce lacks formal safety training, without deliberate intention, these gaps threatens not only productivity, but human lives,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor added that safety remains a critical and often neglected component of the nation’s development strategy, stressing that growth without safety is not development, but gambling with human capital.
Professor Akinwumi stressed further that the establishment of Centre for Safety management in the institution is their industrial response to advance knowledge in inovation and best practices in order to promote a safer more sustainable society across Nigeria and beyond.
He added that the Centre is to bridge the knowledge and skills gaps in industrial environment, occupational and and public safety through high impact research, professional training and strategic industry collaboration.
He said : “The Centre for Safety management federal university Lokoja stand apart through its distinctly industry -driven orientation, 70 percent practical, 30percent academic.”
In his opening remarks, the Managing Director, Safety Analytics limited, Mr Fasusi Olayinka said that Nigeria and Africa as a whole are yet to attain a global standard in safety management.
He said in the era of complex industrial operations characterised by high risks, the country’s educational curriculum across various institutions do not reflect a strong commitment for safe and sustainable development.
“Efforts are limited when it comes to inovations, research and development in safety management. On daily basis, people are dying from avoidable accidents at work and other places. Nigeria and Africa are making serious economic losses due to incidents that could have been prevented. These problems have continue to plague our society due to shortage of professionals and experts in the field of safety management,” he said.
Olayinka stressed that Safety Analytics limited, as a company that specializes in safety management services , technical research and development, and industrial services, it will give an unwavering support to the institution management to ensure a successful running of the programme.
“We call the launching of Centre for Safety management in the federal university Lokoja today as ground breaking . As an experts in the area of safety management, and professionals who have decades of accumulated experience, cutting across the industrial and academic sectors, we understand the challenges that Nigeria and Africa are facing, when it comes to safety management,” he said.
However, the guest speaker, Dr (Mrs) Comfort Adeosun said the safety of any nation is very important in the global world of today, saying, Safety is everywhere, and it remains everyone’s business.
Unfortunately, she said, preventable hazards are not being taken into consideration; even as she added that the society may not get it right, if the proper protocol of safety is not followed or defined.
“We should continue to strengthening capacity, building skills and infrastructure to prevent avoidable accidents; safety is no longer optional, but essential. All sectors must integrates safety measures in their plan . Safety should not being seen in oli and gas alone ,but everywhere.Any sector, there is a risk or hazard . Education and training are key drivers in safety management. Encourage students to champion research,” she said.