COOU Marks World Safety Day as VC Omenugha Champions Safe Campus Initiative

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha FNIPR, received distinguished guests ahead of the institution’s observance of World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The event, themed “Global Perspective on Safety Culture: Analyzing the Influence of Safety Legislation on Organizational Practices,” was organized by the Head of the Students’ Accident, Emergency and Safety Unit, Dr. Godfrey Afamnede.

While briefing the Vice Chancellor, the Convener, Dr. Afamnede, described the programme as an inaugural engagement of the Unit, emphasizing its vision to institutionalize a proactive safety culture within the University and its surrounding communities. He noted that the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to safeguarding lives and property on campus. According to him, one of the key expected outcomes of the workshop is the establishment of a Students’ Marshals Corps—a structured body of trained student volunteers who will support safety awareness, emergency response coordination, and compliance with safety protocols across the University.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Omenugha, commended the Convener for what she described as a forward-thinking and timely initiative, particularly in a period where institutional safety is increasingly central to academic excellence and student well-being. She reiterated that the creation of the Students’ Accident, Emergency and Safety Unit was a deliberate administrative decision aimed at unbundling the responsibilities of Student Affairs and ensuring focused leadership on critical areas of campus life.

Prof. Omenugha further emphasized that safety remains a top priority of her administration, noting that the University’s Safe Campus Initiative was designed to build a secure, responsive, and student-centered environment. She praised Dr. Afamnede for demonstrating competence and dedication in driving the Unit’s mandate, adding that such leadership is essential in entrenching a culture of prevention rather than reaction.

Expanding on her vision, the Vice Chancellor highlighted that safety goes beyond emergency response to include environmental responsibility, behavioral discipline, and collective accountability. She expressed optimism that the proposed Students’ Marshals Corps would not only serve as ambassadors of safety but would also champion cleanliness, environmental sustainability, and orderliness across campus—aligning with the University’s broader goal of creating a green, healthy, and globally competitive academic environment.

©️COOUNewS, 2026.