American University Confers TNN Columnist Professorial Chair Award

Edith CHUKU

Highstone Global University, Texas, USA, has conferred professorial Chair in Occupational Health and Safety award on TNN Newspaper Columnist, Dr. Esang Esitikot.

This was contained in a release made available to our correspondent, titled: TNN Columnist, the Son of an Illiterate Woman, Awarded Professorial Chair by American University.

The statement revealed that at the conferment ceremony held on Saturday, the African Vice Chancellor of Highstone Global University, Professor (Ambassador) Valentine Iheukwumere appreciated Professor Esitikot for his role in the development of occupational health and safety and, in addition to the ceremonial robing, presented the professorial award certificate to him.

Prior to the formal professorial conferment, Dr. Esitikot presented an inaugural lecture on “The struggle to protect the worker: safety and security – friends or enemies?”

In the lecture, he discussed how safety and security complement each other to protect the workers from unintentional acts, complacency, external intrusions and malicious acts of fellow humans. He, however, noted that in many paradigms, safety procedures work against security protocols and vice versa.

Esitikot explained that “despite the complementary roles between safety and security, there are limited models that enable balancing the interrelationship between safety and security control measures.

“The implication is that decision makers typically make an unenviable choice of sacrificing safety for security or vice versa.”

Expounding on the ideological, cultural, technological and strategic differences between safety and security issues, he emphasized that, “Safety and security management systems should be integrated, areas of conflict identified, and common risk assessment done to recognize where safety procedures are more effective than security procedures and vice versa in the protection of workers, assets and environment. The integration can be structural, functional and cultural.”

Esitikot also recommended the creation of redefined risk matrixes that address both the concept of safety and security to enable decision making based on what offers higher value.

He stressed the need for the training of safety professionals in security procedures and security professionals in safety procedures to enhance improvement in managing areas of potential conflict.

On the life of professor Esitikot, the release described him as “a testament to every youth on what passion, dedication, focus and commitment can produce.

“Born in Nyakiba village, Ukanafun LGA of Akwa Ibom State as the 9th of  the 10 sons in a polygamous family of three wives, his mother being the last wife, professor Esitikot lost his father at a tender age and was raised by his illiterate mother, a peasant trader. The future looked dark and the chance of completing his secondary school education was slim. However, his passion for education grew higher every blessed day fuelled by the uncommon support of his mum who was ready to sell wrapper from her waist to ensure his son had a good taste of formal education. Despite the challenges he faced, he emerged as the best graduating student out of 103 from Western Annang Secondary Commercial School and the coast was set for a more challenging educational journey.

“Against odds, he proceeded to the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun operating on a feeding model of zero-half-half and graduated with a National Diploma at distinction level, breaking the school record as the first distinction graduate in his department. Against his will, he delved into vocational training that created the path for him to secure a source of livelihood in the oil and gas industry where he rose through the ranks to his current position as a management staff. Being passionate about furthering his education, the young Esitikot with the passage of time, acquired a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering from the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. 

“His love for occupational health and safety made him enrol and obtain a Master’s degree in Health, Safety and Risk Management from Robert Gordon University, Scotland. His passion for further knowledge led him to Walden University, USA from where he acquired the doctor of business administration degree.

“Over the years,  Professor Esitikot, a COREN-registered chemical engineer, has made significant contributions to the development of health and safety,  youth development and the enhancement of human capacity. He has many research publications in international journals to his credit and is a peer reviewer for some international research journals.  As part of his contributions to societal development, he volunteers as a lecturer in the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment Studies, University of Uyo.

“Along with Professor Esitikot, five other eminent Nigerians, Akaninyene Ekong,  Okeke Ndubuisi, Jasper Ikpesu, Ukandu Christian and Bumie Ovuru were awarded professorial chairs while some other personalities bagged honorary doctoral degrees in different fields based on their contributions humanity.”