Kwara L-PRES Trains Livestock Staff on Occupational Health, Safety Management

...As the State government reaffirms commitment to workers' welfare, safety...

The Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has trained not fewer than one hundred livestock staff on occupational health and safety management to ensure effective service delivery and safety of the officials in their workplace.

The participants who were drawn from the newly created State Ministry of Livestock Development are mainly field workers in the livestock sector of the State.

In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas disclosed that the training was geared towards enhancing the capacity of the participants in ensuring their safety while carrying out  various tasks in their respective place of work.

Mrs. Thomas explained that the essence of the training was to encourage the livestock workers to take responsibility for their individual safety by protecting themselves against any form of hazard that may occur while performing their official duties.

She further reaffirmed the present administration's  commitment to workers' welfare and safe working environment in the State.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed thanked the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for providing the enabling environment for L-PRES Project in the State, adding that the training would improve the knowledge of the participants on the risks and hazards involved in their daily activities.

The Project Coordinator for Kwara L-PRES, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye said the training for the staff of the newly established Ministry would keep them abreast of the risk associated with their duties.

According to him, the livestock workers are exposed to several hazards and risks such as attacks from animals, zoonotic diseases, dangerous chemicals, among others, explaining that the officers needed to know how to protect themselves from the identified hazards/risks.

The lead facilitator of the training, Mr. Vincent Okonkwo who is also the Chief Executive Officer, First Accentric Consulting Limited, said the workshop is designed to improve occupational health and safety in the State livestock sector, adding that the training would enlighten both the stakeholders  and policies makers on how standard operating procedures are carried out.

Mr. Okonkwo said one of the main objectives of the training is to ensure that livestock workers are well protected against zoonotic diseases and other hazards related issues in the sector.

The representatives of the participants, Dr. Muftaudeen Oyewo and Mrs. Mujidat Raji said the training was very essential for their efficiency and came at the right time.

The week-long training programme, commenced on Monday 12th and will end on Friday 16th of May, 2025, reinforcing the State Government's commitment to workplace safety and the welfare of workers in the State.

Yusuf Ganiyu Adebisi 

Project Communication and ICT Officer 

Kwara L-PRES 

08131095496