By Tonye Apiri
The Cross River State Chapter of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, ISPON, has inducted 24 new members into its fold and upgraded two serving members in a colourful ceremony held at the weekend in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
A total of 24 persons were inducted – 13 physically at the Calabar venue, while 11 other approved candidates participated virtually.
In addition, two members were screened and upgraded to a higher membership cadre.
The event was graced by the National President of the Institute, Chief Dr. Udezi Stephen L.A, FISPN, who was accompanied by the Deputy Registrar of the Institute, Mrs. Joy Abroko.
In his address, Chief Udezi congratulated the new inductees and charged them to be true professionals and change agents in the field of safety.
He said their induction fulfilled a constitutional obligation as provided for in the ISPON Act of 2014, which mandates that all safety professionals in Nigeria must be members of the Institute.
The President further disclosed that plans are underway to institutionalise Safety Desks in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, across the country, noting that employment opportunities for Safety Officers are already opening up in government.
According to him, full membership of ISPON now places the inductees in good stead as qualified and recognised persons for such opportunities.
He said, “By being inducted today, you have fulfilled the constitutional obligation as enshrined in the ISPON Act of 2014. Every safety professional must be a member of this body. ISPON remains committed to building a competent workforce that will help reduce workplace accidents and promote a culture of safety in Nigeria. Plans are underway to institutionalize Safety Desks in all MDAs, and employment as Safety Officers is already coming up as a government offer. Your membership of ISPON today places you as qualified persons for those opportunities. Safety is not a slogan; it is a way of life. As you are being inducted today, you have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding lives, properties and the environment. Go and make ISPON proud.”
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter, Mr. Adekunle Odutola, expressed delight over the growth of the chapter and charged the new members to be worthy ambassadors of the Institute.
He also called on government at all levels to establish Safety Commissions in each state of the federation, manned by ISPON-certified personnel, to help prevent accidents.
He said, “I am delighted that today we have grown our number. To our new members, both those here physically and those who joined online, I welcome you to the ISPON family. Be worthy ambassadors of safety and uphold the integrity of this Institute wherever you find yourselves. We are calling on government at all levels to set up Safety Commissions in each state manned by ISPON-certified personnel. This will help greatly in preventing accidents, because as a body we are trained to be proactive. We do not wait for accidents to happen, we prevent them.”
Also in attendance were members of the State Executive including the Vice Chairman of the Chapter, Mr. Gabriel Edet Udosen, and the Training Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Johnson, among other safety professionals.
The high point of the ceremony was the administration of the oath of membership to the new inductees by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs. Joy Abroko, who formally admitted them into the Institute and admonished them to abide by the ethics and code of conduct of the profession.