On this day, Saturday, April 8th, 2023, there were reports that fire broke out at a wedding reception which was held at Yard 158, a prestigious event centre in Oregon, Lagos. Some reports speculated that this is the second of such occurrence at an event centre.
Owning an event centre in Nigeria is a big business, so one would wonder what social responsibility owners have towards their customers and stakeholders that they did not think it necessary to do the needful to take proactive steps. But well, your guess is good as mine. Moreover, judging from the calibre of customers that do patronize such centres, one would have expected them to have a high level of safety and security awareness as its Corporate Social Responsibility. Unfortunately, this was not the case, as this incident only shows that most event centres focus more on making profit without considering their responsibility towards ensuring the safety of lives and property. Reports gathered also indicated that the loss counted as a result of this incident included, properties, disrupted memorable wedding ceremony, brand name and thankfully no casualties.
Every organisation ought to have an existing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) while meeting its business goals and objectives because it promotes corporate reputation and integrity. Any organisation with an operational Corporate Social Responsibility, which in itself is a self-regulating business model, helps that organisation to be socially accountable to itself, stakeholders, suppliers, distributors, employees, customers, communities and the public at large. It also addresses other issues like human rights, education, ethics, health, safety, and environment.
This is where safety as an organisational culture should be propagated at event centres as its Corporate Social Responsibility towards its stakeholders and customers while implementing “ A Safe Eventing”. Safe Eventing is described as the safe planning, organising and implementation of activities which are in line with safety procedures that are carried out within and around an event centre in accordance with the laws guiding event centres, e.g. APPOEMN (Association of Professional Party Organizers and Event Managers of Nigeria).
From a safety point of view, it is recommended that event owners take proactive steps in ensuring that safety measures are installed within and around their facility; such as fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire blankets just in time before the fire service gets to the venue in the event of a fire outbreak. As it is the usual believe in Nigeria, most organisations are usually more reactive than preventive in their operational approach. Therefore, it is on this note that I charge event owners and the body of APPOEMN, to collaborate with Health and Safety Organisations to forestall preventive safety measures inorder to promote safe eventing practices at every event centre in Nigeria.
By Joy Omonzoba
QHSE Exec – Safety Consultants and Solutions Providers Ltd
