The Management of Olabisi Onabanjo University under the able leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, organized a training programme on fire-fighting for 22 security personnel selected from the four campuses of the University. The two-day programme was held on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th December, 2018, at the Main campus, Ago-Iwoye.
Speaking during the opening segment of the training, the Chairman, Security Committee of the University, Professor Alaba Adenuga, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, expressed the appreciation of the University Management to the Resource Persons that were invited to the programme. He submitted that the training became imperative for the security personnel of the University to forestall fire outbreaks that is common during dry seasons. He added that getting the security personnel trained will empower them to prepare adequately for the prevention and combat of fire incidence whenever it occurs. He noted that the training programme is the first of its kind and therefore enjoined all the participants to take the training seriously. He thereafter thanked the Safety and Fire Officers for accepting the request of the University Management, as resource persons for the training programme and further commended the prompt response of the medical team from the Directorate of Health Services, of the University that were on standby during the training.
Presenting his opening remarks, the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. R. Adekunle, emphasized the pivotal position of training in human resource management. He posited that training especially, specific training of this kind, was necessary to build capacity and boost performance of employees. He added that security personnel are expected to be composite and be alert to their responsibilities, in order to ensure that the environment is well protected and insulated from threat to lives and property. He submitted that regular training for security employees was a harbinger to peace and safety which are indices for development and achievement of organizational goals and objectives. He commended the responsiveness and resourcefulness of the University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, for initiating and financing the training programme which according to him, has boosted the morale of the security personnel in the University.
The security personnel were thereafter exposed to physical and theoretical methods of combating fire outbreaks in various sessions. Topics on “Fire Prevention Methods, Meaning and Causes of Fire, Its Elements and Classifications”, “Different Extinguishing Medium for Different Classes of Fire, Stages of Fire and Types of Extinguishers” as well as, “What not to do when there is Fire Outbreaks” were extensively treated by the trainers during the programme.
At the end of the training session, the trainees attested to having benefitted immensely from the programme and that they were better equipped physically and mentally to perform the task of protecting lives and property within the University environment.
