The 2025 edition of the South-South Industrial and Transport Safety Conference and Award Ceremony celebrated exceptional public leaders and corporate institutions for their exemplary contribution to industrial, occupational, maritime, transportation, and organizational safety across Nigeria.
The high-profile event which held at the Prof. Chike Edozie Hall, State Government Secretariat, Asaba, Delta State brought together dignitaries, regulators, industry executives, safety experts, government officials, logistics companies, maritime institutions, oil & gas leaders, manufacturing organizations, and enforcement agencies.
The event was jointly organised by Joint National Transport Safety Committee of Nigeria (JNTSCN) South-South Industrial and Transport Safety Hub of Nigeria in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (South-South Zonal Office), Delta State Government, Niger-Delta Industrial and Occupational HSE Hub Nigeria and National Industrial and Occupational Health, Safety Hub Nigeria.
The awardees were recognized for institutional leadership in enhancing safety awareness, accident prevention systems, labour protection standardsop, transport sector enforcement, maritime security, infrastructure safety, corporate safety culture, construction safety, emergency response, and occupational protection frameworks.
The 2025 edition recognized leading individuals and organisations whose policies, investment initiatives and practical reforms have signifiiicantly improved safety processes, reduced industrial hazards, promoted safe transport systems, and strengthened health and safety compliance in key sectors across Nigeria.
The eminent personalities conferred with the Outstanding Distinguished Leadership Safety Personality of the Year Award are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, Group President of Dangote Industries Limited; H.E. Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State; H.E. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State; IGP. Dr. Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police; H.E. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; and H.E. Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State.
This year’s corporate and sectoral awards spanned construction, maritime, power generation, oil and gas, logistics, shipping, manufacturing and banking. The award recipients are:
H.E. Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State – Safety Governor of the Year
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) – Outstanding Port Safety Achievement Award
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General/CEO, NIMASA – Best Maritime Safety Distinguished Award
Hon. Onoriode Agofure – Delta State Commissioner- Safety Commissioner of Transport.
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Executive Chairman/CEO of SIFAX Group – Outstanding maritime leadership and industry safety commitment.
Maton Engineering Nigeria Ltd -Safety Company of the Year
Hitech Construction Co. Ltd. – Construction Safety Excellence Award
Geregu Power Plc – Outstanding Safety Performance Power GenCo Award
Pinnacle Oil & Gas Ltd – Outstanding Safety in Storage, Handling & Distribution (Oil & Gas)
TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc – Oil & Gas Retail Safety Performance Award
Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Ltd – Best Port Operations Safety Leadership Award
Tolaram Group – Best Safety Compliance Company
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc – Industrial Safety Excellence Award (Zero Incident Operations)
Northwest Petroleum & Gas Co. Ltd – Oil and Gas Safety Champion Award
TSL Logistics Ltd – Transport Safety Best Practice Award
BHN Transport & Logistics Ltd – Haulage and Freight Safety Excellence Award
TICT – Tin-Can Island Container Terminal – Shipping Safety Excellence Award
Guinness Nigeria Plc – Manufacturing Safety Excellence Award
Nestlé Nigeria Plc – Outstanding Industrial Safety Best Practice Award
In one of the most notable recognitions, Mrs. Yemisi Edun, Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), received the Outstanding Woman in Industrial Safety Excellence Award for the banking sector, highlighting gender inclusion in safety leadership and corporate policy direction.
In his keynote address,
National Executive Chairman, Joint National Transport Safety Committee of Nigeria, Amb. Mogbojuri Taiwo Oluwadamilare, said that Nigeria stands at a decisive turning point regarding industrial safety consciousness and accident prevention, especially across the nation’s transport corridors, factories, ports, construction sites and maritime operations.
He called for the implementation of structured national safety frameworks, standard operating procedures, and stakeholder-driven safety reforms.
Representing the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, welcomed guests and reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to industrial safety and transport reform initiatives. He described safety regulation as “a development priority and non-negotiable national obligation.”
Also speaking, Mrs. Winfred, Zonal Director, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (South-South Zonal Office), commended the award initiative as a “productive national reinforcement of workplace safety compliance and HSE culture.”
Comrade Armstrong Ikemefuna Okoisor, South-South Regional Coordinator and LOC Chairman, formally welcomed guests, partners and award recipients to the event, describing it as a celebration of excellence and leadership in safety, innovation, and sustainable industry practices.
He commended the distinguished personalities present for setting national standards and expressed pride in the diverse participation of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to increasing industrial safety advocacy across the South-South region and Nigeria as a whole, while building stronger public-private partnerships.
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