The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) has renewed calls for comprehensive safety education reforms nationwide, urging stakeholders to embed a culture of safety in workplaces, communities, and public spaces.
The appeal was made at the Abuja Safety Summit themed “Safe Cities, Sustainable Tomorrow: Pathway to Responsible Development.”
ISPON President, Chief Udezi Stephen, emphasized that membership of the institute is a statutory requirement for anyone practicing as a safety professional in Nigeria.
“ISPON membership is a must for anybody that wants to practice as a safety professional in Nigeria,” he declared, warning of legal penalties for non-compliance. Individuals risk fines of ₦100,000, while organizations employing unregistered practitioners face penalties starting at ₦500,000.
Udezi also stressed the need for proper accreditation of safety training providers, reiterating that ISPON is the only legally recognized body for such training. He underscored the importance of safety culture, stating: “If we have safe cities, then you can go home, close your eyes and sleep… Once we have been trained and are doing things correctly, it forms part of our culture.”
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, represented by Technical Director Dayo Alawo, said safety should be treated as a national commitment. He highlighted NSITF’s safety philosophy built on prevention, compensation, and rehabilitation, while stressing the role of collaboration and data-driven systems in preventing accidents.
ISPON Abuja Chairman, Mrs. Ifeoma Okpara, noted that the summit aimed at building safer cities through collective action. She highlighted ongoing audits, inspections, and awareness campaigns in Abuja, while announcing plans to extend safety sensitization efforts to rural communities and local markets, including in local languages.
The summit concluded with a call for coordinated reforms, stricter enforcement of safety standards, and wider public awareness to build a safety-conscious society across Nigeria.
