Lagos, Century Group, IOSH canvass for healthy environment
Century Group, a major indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria, September 4, 2020, gathered the health safety and environment (HSE) community and stake
holders to address key HSE issues across Nigeria.
The gathering, which was in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), was aimed at finding ways to change the punitive image of HSE practice as well as unveiling inherent investment and revenue generating opportunities.
The event held on the theme, “HSE in our DNA: Recycling to wealth” amid presentations by HSE experts.
Akin Abayomi, Lagos State commissioner of health, gave the keynote address which he titled ‘Recycling to waste: The Impact of Waste Management and Recycling in Health.’
As a representative of the Lagos State Council and Executive Cabinet of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, he focused on how the state was managing waste generated for the general wellbeing of Lagosians in spite of the population explosion and migration.
In his address, he highlighted the need for awareness of proper waste management among health workers, saying, “There is also a need for a coherent plan to design and implement a best practices medical waste system in Lagos for a sustainable future for its environment.”
Through his presentation, a vivid picture of the administration’s “Themes agenda” was painted and a critical part of that agenda is Health and Environment.
According to the professor, “The minimum requirement for a healthy waste management system is to reduce and reuse our waste.” He identified recycling, composting, sanitary landfilling, incineration with energy recovery and biogas as sustainable vehicles for effective waste management.
Speakers and panellists at the Century Group Powered HSE Summit drawn from the environment and sustainability, health and safety, waste management and investment opportunities categories include: The state Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, through the permanent secretary – Aderonke Odeneye; director-general of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, and director of strategy and business development at IOSH, Richard Orton.
Others include Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) represented by the assistant director of Environment, Ejiro Ufondu; Funmi Adegbola, the CEO of Combined Training Solutions; Adewale Taiwo of the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN); Ibukun Faluyi and John Flynn, LAWMA’S Essien Nsuabia;
Fred Ugo from NIMASA; Jamiu Badmus and Adeola Omotunde of WAMASON, and Tosin Faniro-dada of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
The analytics report reveals that well over 5000 people registered for the event globally. A total of 10 participants won Recycling Entrepreneurship trainings valued at about N2,500,000, while several others won 50 percent IOSH membership discounts and trainings with Combined training Solutions.
It is the vision of the organisers of the Summit that the presentations and training initiatives will benefit the youth, regardless of discipline and educational background to recognise and embrace revenue generating and employment opportunities in HSE practice.