A moment of silence observed for the legendry ISPON Captn. Grant Briggs
It was with nostalgia yesterday, at the NERDC complex, near popular Fela shrine in Ikeja, Lagos, the current office of Lagos Branch, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, ISPON, as of old, converged in their numbers for its maiden meeting in 2025. The about 70 persons capacity venue of the meeting overflowed as additional seats kept coming for attendees.
Dr. Lucky Oderhohwo appreciating ISPON Lagos
It has not been so in Lagos since after the Institute’s chaotic annual general meeting in Awka, capital of Anambra state in 2016, which resulted in factions that continued to multiply – some visibly and some clandestinely. With what played out then, ISPON also had its radicals, peace lovers, grabbers, indifferent members and all manner of characters joined together by their safety professionalism. Each character however, played their various role depending on their characteristics to seal the cracked ISPON family to no avail until the National Assembly in its wisdom stepped in last year.
At an AGM converged in conjunction with the NASS Committee on Safety Standards and Regulation, on October 17 -19, 2024, in Abuja, the NASS under Team Leader, Honourable Chief Barr. Harrison Anozie Nwadike, a unification of all the factions was brokered. At that AGM, an ISPON Governing Board drawn from all the factions was constituted. They were charged to also conduct an all embracing elections in all the Branches to reflect the new toga.
The GB, earlier in the year came up with a schedule for the Branches and Lagos state Branch election according to that schedule will happen on March 21, 2025.
Lagos safety professionals like other States Branches are in high spirit to make and see this happen hence the tumultuous first meeting attendance.
Also, they were overwhelmed by what they saw as efforts of the Olusola Ogunleye led Lagos Branch Executives. They applauded the Branch executives team for its ability to secure and furnish an administrative and training Centre with a lean resources occasioned by the crisis. This prompted a GB member from the Branch, Dr. Lucky Orderhohwo of Rholuck limited to support the Branch’s office with some cash without an inkling that he just activated the dormant spirit of support, sharing and professional bond which had been compelled to lie fallow over the years. At the end of the day, close to Two Million naira was raised including safety kits for the Branch by members. It was a demonstration of the good taste of unity and peace.
The GB team lead on all the upcoming elections in Lagos and other Branches, Mazi Harold Echendu (a lawyer) was at the meeting being a Lagos Member as well as the Registrar of the Institute, Ben Modebe.
Other attendees include: Engr. Badmos Jamiu, Mrs. Fayo William, Dapo Omolade of Hybrid Group, Hassan B. Hassan among others.
