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Sun, 02 Feb 2025 People & Places

Award-Winning Occupational Safety Specialist transforms lives in underserved communities

  Sun, 02 Feb 2025
Mrs. Joy Chikwendu Nwaka, an accomplished Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) specialistMrs. Joy Chikwendu Nwaka, an accomplished Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) specialist

In a career defined by innovation and a passion for community welfare, Mrs. Joy Chikwendu Nwaka, an accomplished Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) specialist, is breaking new ground in workplace and domestic safety across Africa.

With over a decade of experience, Mrs. Nwaka has implemented life-changing initiatives that have empowered thousands in underserved communities and significantly reduced health and safety risks.

Through her role as a Fire and Life Safety-certified professional and Safety Program Coordinator, Mrs. Nwaka has led impactful township fire risk maintenance awareness programs in trade hubs such as Oshodi Market in Lagos and Ariaria Market in Aba. These programs educated market stakeholders on fire prevention, safe storage practices, and emergency evacuation planning, complemented by live fire drills and the distribution of fire extinguishers.

“Our goal was to help these communities move from being reactive to proactive in managing fire risks,” Mrs. Nwaka shared. The results speak for themselves: reduced fire hazards, improved preparedness, and a strong safety culture in historically neglected areas.

Mrs. Nwaka’s commitment to inclusion is evident in her safety literacy workshops for visually impaired individuals in Oyo State’s Ibadan North LGA in Nigeria. More than 1,000 participants benefited from these sessions, gaining critical knowledge on fire safety, mobility, and emergency preparedness. “This program gave us the tools to protect ourselves,” one beneficiary remarked. “It has transformed how we navigate our daily lives.”

Mrs. Nwaka’s leadership extends to health-focused initiatives like asbestos awareness campaigns in Aba North, Abia State, and Enugu South, Enugu State. By educating workers and residents on safe handling and disposal of asbestos, these programs have mitigated long-term health risks in communities exposed to hazardous materials.“This initiative opened our eyes to dangers we didn’t even realize were affecting us,” said a participant in Aba North. “It has made a huge difference in our community.”

For her exceptional contributions, Mrs. Nwaka has been honored with multiple awards, including the Outstanding Community Impact Award from the Lagos State Safety Commission and the Safe Communities Award from the Ibadan North Local Government. These accolades highlight the tangible, life-saving results of her work in communities long overlooked by traditional safety programs.

“Our mission is to make safety a fundamental right, not a privilege,” Mrs. Nwaka concluded. “When communities thrive, we all win.”

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