…35 Organisations, Individuals recognised for Excellence in Safety, Sustainability, Leadership Across Africa
Effiong Udofia Okon, the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, has reaffirmed the importance of workplace safety in business leadership, declaring that companies cannot consider themselves profitable if workers lose their lives under their watch.
Okon made the declaration at the 2026 Africa Safety Congress and Awards (AfriSAFE), a two-day event held on November 5 and 6 at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana, under the theme, “Safeguarding Lives, Securing the Future.”
Speaking from his experience in the energy industry, the Seplat Energy CEO described the emotional and human cost of workplace fatalities, stressing that protecting employees must remain a fundamental responsibility of corporate leadership.
He recalled his experience with workplace fatalities and the difficult responsibility of informing families who have lost loved ones in industrial incidents.
“I have been in the industry for a very long time, and I have seen fatalities. I have led fatalities, and it is not where you want to be. There is nothing as bad as having to call a spouse and say we just lost your partner. It is tough, and it is real,” he said.
Commending AfriSAFE for its continued advocacy, Engr. Okon encouraged the organisers to sustain their efforts towards improving safety standards across the continent.
He noted that organisations have no meaningful future without a commitment to protecting human lives, adding that Seplat Energy takes workplace safety extremely seriously.
“In fact, we will not be profitable if we have people die under our watch. And it is not the space anybody wants to be in,” he declared.
He further pledged the company’s continued support for AfriSAFE, stating that Seplat Energy Plc would continue to support and sponsor the initiative.
Beyond the discussions on workplace safety and corporate responsibility, the 2026 edition of AfriSAFE also recognised 35 organisations and individuals for their contributions to safety, sustainability, environmental stewardship and leadership across Africa.
Among the major corporate winners were Seplat Energy, named Energy Company of the Year; Puma Energy Zambia, which received the ESG & Sustainability Impact Company of the Year award; Sunbelt Global Concepts, Agricultural Company of the Year; and Bank of Industry, which received the Institutional Impact Award.
Vulcan Mozambique won the Corporate Social Impact Company of the Year; Hormuud Telecom, named Telecommunications Company of the Year; and Spiro, was recognised for Sustainable Mobility, Environmental Impact & Responsible Operations.
Other organisational winners included
Said Salim Bakhresa & Company Limited, Kagem Mining Limited, Powergas Ebedei Limited, Donna Spectre Ltd., Unitrans Botswana, Kevron Group, Stefanutti Stocks Construction Zambia, Safety Consultant and Safety Provider Limited (SCSP), KEC International Limited, Equity Holdings Group and iSafety Group.
Government and institutional leadership also featured prominently, with the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Générale de la Sécurité et Santé au Travail (DGSST) receiving the Government Safety Leadership Award, while Mr. Lanre Moojola, Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, received Special Recognition in Institutional Support of Safety.
Individual award recipients included Rebecca M. L. Katowa, former CEO of Zambia Sugar who received a Lifetime Achievement Award; Shobajo Hannah Motunrayo, who won the Women in Safety Leadership Award; and Prof. Sunday Nkereuwem Etukudoh, who clinched the Safety Personality of the Year.
Other winners include: Isaac Mutunga, Anthony Erumusele, Adeniran Ibukun Fadeyibi, Oabona Letshuti, Vusumuzi Nehemiah Mabena, Oluwaseun Ayeni, Waliu Adeniyi Adegoke, Wilson Kehla Kongnyuy, Chief Essien Akpabio, Mr. Akin Osuntoki, Ifeanyi Mbarie, Michael Zano and Love Doshinma, among other distinguished professionals.
Event sponsors, including Seplat Energy, Zambia Sugar, Bank of Industry (BOI), Hormuud Telecom, Tropical Cable, Hybrid Group, Unique Open Foundation, and Safety Consultant and Solution Provider Limited (SCSP), alongside special guests and members of the judging panel, also delivered goodwill messages and remarks.
The programme featured cultural performances, a comedy interlude and a Merit Roll of Honour parade of nominees.
In his closing remarks, Femi Da-Silva, AfriSAFE Chief Executive Officer, appreciated the members of the judging panel for their contributions to the selection of the award winners.
The Africa Safety Award for Excellence (AfriSAFE), organised by HSENations International, recognises organisations and individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to safety, health, environmental stewardship and responsible operations across Africa.
Through its annual awards, congress and advocacy programmes, AfriSAFE promotes stronger safety cultures, encourages responsible industry leadership and advances the protection of lives and property across the continent.
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Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the ‘Aviation Writer of the Year’ Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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