The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reassured staff of the Organization of its unflinching and firm resolve at prioritizing health details concerning its employees in order that the best of all officers would be effectively tapped into as the Authority harnesses all variables towards greater dividends contributive to the Nation Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In a statement whilst flagging off the organizations and annual “Workers Wellness Programmes Fair” the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman ably represented by the Executive Director Finance and Administration Mohammed Bello Koko called on all and sundry to key unto the theme of the programme “Eat Right, Keep Fit and Enhance Productivity” which is in tandem with the bed rock of the NPA’s core values of upholding efficiency and engendering greater customer satisfaction.
The programme she said is a way of encouraging staff to be the best they can in order that they are part of the synergy chain in basic operational activities of the authority adding that the gateway to the Nation’s economy deserves to be driven by a healthy workforce. She congratulated the occupational health team for being the pinnacle of Management’s thrust in ensuring a sustained health regime which has left the officers of the organization better in rendering their services to the nation.
In her welcome address the General Manager Medical Services NPA Dr.chinwe Abanna encouraged the NPA Officers to the wellness concept “We are what we eat”, stressing that as earlier stated by the Managing Director in a different fora, that Management is desirous of enshrining a workforce through standard canteens where the principles of balanced dieting would be made to catch on amongst officers across board. She added that the greatest resource of any organization is its employees thus investing in their health is therefore undeniably crucial to their general performance amongst schedules and operations.
Whilst appreciating the Hadiza Bala Usman led Management for being supportive by the way of providing worktools, canteens and motivations through capacity building, Dr. Abanna highlighted area of need which included the upholding of the HSE policy of the organization, the last having been heralded on 2008. Other areas of relative needs according to her are operational vehicles for oversight functions amongst others.
Speaking at the event, Assistant General Manager Occupational Health of NPA Ngozi Obikili (Mrs.) urged NPA’s workers to be healthy at all times pointing out that “the critical lifestyle factors that affect health and wellness are our diet, physical fitness, thus the need to eat right and keep fit, drawing attention to the fact that “you are what you eat’.
She told stakeholders that the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman from inception had summed up what stands out as an inspiration towards keeping fit and helping in maximizing productivity. According to her, the MD had said “My own way of keeping fit is by using the stair case up in the morning and down after closing and I indulge you to do the same for fitness”. This has changed the mind set of lots of employees Obikili added.
The NPA “Workers Wellness Programme Fair” is an annual programme through which the Management of the NPA prioritizes staff welfare and wellness towards greater productivity and greater customer service.
Engr. A.A Jatto
General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications Division