Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, has been conferred with the Excellence Leadership Award by the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON).
The award was presented to Faleye during a side event of ISPON’s Annual Professional Development Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting, which held from Wednesday to Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Receiving the award, Faleye dedicated the honour to the staff and management of NSITF, describing it as a recognition of their collective commitment to workplace safety. He said the award would further inspire the Fund to intensify efforts in promoting safe and healthy work environments across Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the NSITF chief commended the conference theme, “Safer Nigeria 2025: Leveraging AI and Digitalization for Enhanced Occupational Safety and Health,” describing it as both timely and visionary.
Faleye underscored that workplace accidents go beyond financial implications, stressing their broader social and emotional impact.
“Each injury, each fatality represents a family disruption, a deferred dream, and an interrupted future,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to align advancements in occupational safety with the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) managed by NSITF, noting that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and digital platforms are reshaping work dynamics and introducing new safety challenges.
According to him, these innovations come with risks such as cyber threats, human–machine interface accidents, and psychosocial stress linked to digital work environments, calling for strategic adoption of AI and digital tools to protect Nigerian workers.
The ISPON conference attracted participation from lawmakers, industry leaders, safety professionals, and key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, reaffirming the national commitment to workplace safety and sustainable development.
