Najomo dedicates honourary fellowship to safety professionals in NCAA 

Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has dedicated his Honourary Fellowship of Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) to the generality of the safety professionals in NCAA who tirelessly work to uphold the highest standards of safety in the aviation sector.

During his acceptance speech in Abuja recently, he  said “it is noteworthy that in an industry like ours where safety is paramount, the unique roles of safety engineers, and indeed other safety professionals such as pilots, air traffic controllers and occupational safety & health personnel cannot be overemphasized.”

He called for synergy and deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) to enhance safety frameworks, share best practices, and develop capacity-building programs that empower the next generation of safety professionals.

According to him, from designing safer systems and structures to implementing robust safety management practices, indeed safety engineering is the backbone of aviation safety. 

He said it is through strategic collaboration, continuous innovation, and unwavering commitment to safety standards that Nigeria achieve safer skies for all.

In his remarks, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE), Engr Oluseun Faluyi, said safety engineering is more than construction safety, adding that safety engineering is actually present and critical in all sectors of the economy where technical safety is a priority. 

Citing an example,  he said safety is critical in sectors such as aviation, oil and gas, roads and highways, industrial safety, power supply, mechanical equipment, electrical systems, environmental management, maritime, and many more. 

He further said the NISafetyE therefore represents engineers across all industries where safety engineering principles need to be embedded in all aspects of infrastructure development and operations.

He countered some erroneously believe that technical safety, which is our primary focus, is the same as occupational health and safety (OHS). 

While OHS primarily addresses workplace hazards and personnel safety, technical safety concerns itself with engineering systems, processes, and structures that prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. 

“This is what safety engineering is about at its core. It is responsible for the ‘engineering controls’ that is recognized in the OHS concept of safety’s hierarchy of controls.

“Which brings us to why we are very pleased to be here. The NISafetyE is dedicated to building a professional community of engineers and specialists who are responsible for designing, implementing, and regulating technical safety standards. 

“We recognize that many regulators, such as in the NCAA, have engineers who are engaged in ensuring public safety, which is a cardinal responsibility of any responsible government. 

“That is why we believe that you should be part of this professional circle of trust, where knowledge-sharing and technical expertise drive continuous improvement in safety standards. We were very pleased when Engineer Itekke joined us for our AGM in Kano last October,” he said.