ACETEL, DPDW training
Staff of the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) and the Directorate of Physical Development, Works and Services (DPDW&S) have聽been trained on聽safety management聽by聽the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
The training, which took place on聽Thursday,聽March 16,聽2023 at the聽headquarters of the聽水果派 of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja聽aimed at acquainting the trainees about聽major safety rules required for the proposed World Bank building project.
It was part of the necessary聽requirement for ACETEL聽before聽earning聽funds for the construction of its building聽at the NOUN headquarters.
ACETEL聽director, Prof. Grace Jokthan,聽who welcomed the participants to the workshop, said聽the ESMP sensitisation聽was聽the first of its kind, as the team has never been involved in other projects in the university.
鈥淲e have never had to go through the rigours of an environmental safety management plan and all that is required.
鈥淚t has not been an easy task, but we appreciate the consultants for creating the time to actually go through all that is needed, and these are mandatory processes as far as the World Bank is concerned,聽for us to have the building of ACETEL in place,鈥澛爏he said.
Jokthan聽added that聽by having the ESMP sensitisation workshop, ACETEL聽was fulfilling one of the regulatory requirements as it聽also gained聽personal knowledge.
鈥淎s end users of this building, we need to be aware of all the safety rules and regulations that they will guide us through;聽and we also wish to appreciate them for their time and resources that they have put in for this meeting,鈥澛爐he director said.
ACETEL鈥檚聽Social and Environmental Safety Officer, Dr. Petu Ibikunle, while giving a general overview of the proposed ACETEL building,聽explained that聽to get the World Bank project done, the requirements must be met.
Speaking further, Ibikunle said at the end of the workshop participants would聽understand World Bank project work ethics.
He聽mentioned the聽several stages聽his聽unit handles聽towards meeting聽the World Bank requirements.
ESMP聽Consultant, Dr. Linda Akpami, enlightened participants on the need to caution contractors to abide by safety rules聽so as to聽avoid air pollution, potential risk of health聽hazard, ensure proper waste management, prohibition of child labour, prohibition of sexual relations, conflict between workers and the community and school members etc.,聽with a view to聽preventing聽the project from being suspended.
She said the major goal of the ESMP in聽projects like the ACETEL/World Bank project, is to ensure sustainability of the project.
Environmental Sustainability Specialist, Mr. Jesse Ojobor, who is part of the ESMP team, while making his contribution, urged ACETEL to highlight areas that are necessary for the centre to take on.
Representatives of the聽management of the university, Deputy Registrar, Council, Ms. Wosilat Ainodion and Deputy Registrar, Human Resources, Hajia Fadimatu Fufore, were present at the workshop to give ACETEL support and to gain necessary information and requirements regarding the ACETEL/World Bank building project.