Health and safety in Nigeria is set to progress a great deal further with the opening of a dedicated training suite by a UK-based provider in one of the country’s major cities.

Jamie Cliffe, managing director of Middlesbrough-based health and safety training specialist SMTS Ltd, attended the gala opening of the new suite in Lagos, where the ribbon was cut by the director-general of the Lagos Safety Commission, Mrs Odebunmi Dominga.

She commented: “It gladdens my heart that the safety profession is bringing developing and developed nations together. On behalf of the Lagos Government and Nigeria we are proud to associate with SMTS. We believe that excellence is the key word that will operate in these premises and that a safety culture will develop for the progress of our country.”

Jamie Cliffe added: “We are delighted, and indeed very proud, that our work here in Lagos over the years has led to the point where we have not only founded SMTS Nigeria, but now are able to open a fully-operational training suite. In so doing, we are really putting down a marker, saying that we are here to stay, that we are a part of the health and safety fabric of Lagos and wider Nigeria.”

The gala opening was also attended by local dignitaries, other representatives of Lagos State, and key health and safety personnel, including members of the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals, who were undertaking their NEBOSH International General Certificate course at the training centre.

SMTS Nigeria delivers a comprehensive range of essential safety skills courses including First Aid, Fire Safety and Food Hygiene – all to exacting UK standards. The new facility boasts multiple training suites and a number of private bedrooms for residential candidates.

SMTS already has a presence in 16 cities across nine African nations. To read about Jamie Cliffe’s experiences in setting up health and safety business in Africa, visit the SHP blog section and search for ‘Cliffe’.