Sanwo-Olu inaugurates occupational safety cadets in Lagos
Protection of the workers from risks that can cause permanent injury at their workplaces was the central point of discussion at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH) held on Tuesday.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the conference, inaugurated Safety First Campaign and Occupational Safety Cadet, which he described as “first of its kind” in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Stakeholders at the summit called for the adoption of best practices across sectors and organisations, which would make workers in Lagos fully protected from occupational hazards as they toil to contribute towards the economic growth and prosperity of the State.
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The event organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) with the theme: “Occupational Safety and Health as a Catalyst for Nation Building”, was held at Lagos Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the summit reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to build a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Lagos for the workforce, noting that the event underscored the critical role that safety played in driving sustainable development, economic growth, and societal progress.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that a society that aspires to prosper must first safeguard the lives of its people, pointing out that workers deserved to leave their homes with dignity, arrive at their workplaces safely and return to their families in the same condition without occupational injury.
This understanding, the governor said, underpinned his Government’s policies and actions taken daily. He said: “We pioneered the signing of the first-ever Lagos State Safety Policy, which is a document that continues to guide our strategies, strengthen accountability, and demonstrate our government’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
According to him, through the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos jas designed and implemented practical, results-driven interventions across critical sectors of our economy.
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“This intervention has resulted in a drastic reduction of incidents in construction, manufacturing, education, hospitality, events management, and the food industry, amongst others. Our approach is driven by routine and impromptu safety audits and inspections, while ensuring that lessons learned are swiftly translated into policy and practice.
“I must commend the Commission for the strides it has made in significantly fulfilling its mandate by proactively making Lagos safer for us all.”From its operation base in Alausa, the LSSC, which was established in 2011, had opened zonal offices across the state, bringing safety governance closer to our people,” he noted.
Sanwo-Olu said the Commission’s grassroots presence had enabled quicker response times, wider sensitisation and a stronger safety culture within communities.
