A National Assembly member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has called on members of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) to strive to uphold the highest standard in their provision of technical expertise.
The lawmaker made the call during the investiture ceremony of Engr. Ndifreke Inokon as the 3rd Chapter Chairman of NISafetyE in Akwa Ibom State in Uyo, the state capital, at the weekend, noting that the synergy between safety engineering and regulatory compliance is undeniable.
Represented by a member of the state Technical Schools Board and former Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, Mr. Henry Ekpe-Nko, Etteh, who was the Special Guest of Honour, in his goodwill message, stated that the ceremony, themed “Safety Engineering and Regulatory Compliance: Synergies for Sustainable Industrial Development,” underscored a fundamental aspect of our collective responsibility.
According to him, “Safety engineering and regulatory compliance are not merely obligations imposed upon us. They are essential pillars upon which sustainable industrial development rests. As professionals in our fields of endeavour, we bear a profound duty to ensure that our organizations operate with utmost regard for the safety of workers, the public, and the environment. This duty is not negotiable. It’s a commitment we make to uphold the highest standards of safety and compliance in all our endeavours.
“The synergy between safety engineering and regulatory compliance is undeniable. While safety engineering provides the technical expertise and solutions to mitigate risks and hazards, regulatory compliance ensures that these solutions are implemented by established standards and guidelines. Regulatory compliance serves as the foundation upon which trust and credibility are built.”
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Etteh, who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on University Education, mentioned that, since innovation and advancement are driving forces of the 21st-century industrial landscape, the role of safety engineering and regulatory compliance becomes even more critical.
“You must adapt your practices, embrace emerging technologies, and continuously enhance your regulatory frameworks to keep pace with change while safeguarding lives and livelihoods”. He stressed.
While expressing confidence that the Engr. Ndifreke Inokon-led executive would make the Institute proud, Hon. Etteh maintained that “the pursuit of sustainable industrial development necessitates a holistic approach that integrates safety, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. We cannot separate safety from sustainability. They are intrinsically linked, and any attempt to prioritize one at the expense of the other is doomed to fail.”
Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of an Award of Excellence in Peace Keeping to the federal lawmaker.