Federal Lawmaker Tells Colleagues To Seek Knowledge In Industrial Security 

By Frank Oshanugor

A House of Representatives member representing Okrika Federal Constituency in Rivers State, Hon. Gogo Bright Tamuno has advised his fellow lawmakers to always associate with professional security institutes like the Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security (NIIS) and such similar organisations as a way of enriching their knowledge in industrial security related issues.

The legislator who received a Fellowship of NIIS along with some other Nigerians on Friday in Lagos at the 14th Annual Security Conference of the Institute told our correspondent in an interview, that as representatives of the people at grassroot, it was incumbent on the lawmakers to “involve themselves in anything concerning our people so that we will make laws that will positively affect the people.”

“I would like to encourage every member of the National Assembly to associate with organisations like the Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security.”

Hon. Tamuno, a Master’s degree holder in Industrial Sociology and currently at the final stages of his Doctorate programme also in Industrial Sociology noted that “knowledge is something we acquire everyday.  It is only when one interacts with the outside world that he will understand what is happening in the society.”

According to him, when he got to know about NIIS, “I felt it was worth being part of, not necessarily because of the award of Fellowship but to seek the available knowledge and partnership that would enhance my position as a lawmaker. I have decided to partner with the Institute and I would like to take it personal to be involved in whatever the Institute does just the way I involve in other things.”

“Security is a problem in Nigeria and anything we can do to secure our local environment and country at large, we must not relent in doing so.”

The two-day Annual Conference which held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja had attracted eminent speakers with security background. Speaking on the sub-topic “The role of corporate security through inter industry knowledge transfer,” an American veteran and currently the Chief Executive Officer of Bulwark Intelligence, Mrs. Tanwa Ashiru took the participants through Enterprise Security Risk Management and associated lessons.

Managing Director of Transworld Security Limited, Dr.(Mrs) Victoria Ekhomu dwelt on “Operational protocol for private security in the new world” while an expert in Kidnap for ransom negotiation; Mr. Anthony Oghoghorie took time to lecture the participants on “The role of ex-military/police in private security response to security incidents.”

One of the highlights of the event was the conferment of Fellowship of the Institute on twenty deserving Nigerians among whom were Hon. Gogo Bright Tamuno, Dr. Austine Ofou, Brigadier General Ola Falade (rtd), Dr. Omofoman Daniel,  Commander Jose Adesoji Akinnukawe (Rtd) Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (Rtd), Group Captain Markus Tizhe (Rtd), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa and others.

Similarly, about 100 graduates of the NIIS who have successfully completed their Certified Security Supervisors (CSS) Programme were inducted by the President of the Institute, Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami in a colour ceremony.

The theme of this year’s conference is: “Redesigning The Technical & Corporate Governance Strategy of Private Security In Asset Protection In The New World Order.”