‘Why Hotels Should Engage Safety Professionals’

Since the creation of Rivers State in 1967, successive governments have always pursued deliberate policies of human and infrastructural development.

These Policies have created a conducive environment for the people to excel in their chosen fields of human endeavour.

One of those who is a testimony to these policies and programmes is Mr. Vincent Akpu.

Mr. Akpu who hails from Elibrada in the Emohua Local Government Area was among the two Nigerians who were conferred with a fellowship of the London-based International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).

The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management is a professional body for highly skilled health and safety practitioners and specialists in related fields.

It was established in 1975 to advance standards in accident prevention and occupational health throughout the world.

Speaking in an interview with The Weekend Tide shortly after a thanksgiving service at the Royal Church, Rumuokwuta, Mr. Akpu said that he was dedicating the honour to God.

Mr. Akpu described the honour as a great miracle as he was one of the two only Nigerians to have been elevated by the institute.

Apart from being a fellow of URSM, London, Mr. Akpu also has full memberships of the International Association of Safety Professionals (IASP), USA, Fire Protection Association of Nigeria, Royal Life Saving Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) chartered and the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP).

The IIRSM fellow who is currently, the Health Safety and Environment (HSE) site team leader in the Gbarain Ubie gas project of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) told our reporter that Rivers State which is fast becoming the hub of industrialisation in the South South and South East needed well trained manpower in Health Safety and Environment (HSE).

He also said that HSE competence is one of the criteria required by multinational companies the world over for employment, stressing that this situation has underscored the need for the creation of departments that take care of HSE in all higher institutions of learning in the state.

Mr. Akpu further said that safety professionals are needed to man some aspects of all on-going projects of the state government, while the various hotels in the city need them to take care of the safety of lives in their various swimming pools.

He commended the state governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for the on-gong daulisation of roads and other projects in the state, but stressed the need for redesigning of streets in Port Harcourt to ensure access to fire tenders in the event of fire incidence.

“There are areas in Port Harcourt for instance where if there is fire, fire service cannot get to.

The safety professional who is a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt has supervised several projects in the oil and gas sector.

Earlier in his sermon during the service, Bishop Chinasa Nwosu urged Nigerians to always appreciate God whenever he has done great things for them, to attract more blessings.