FULafia SPPU trains staff on crowd management

Ahead of the forthcoming combined 6th, 7th, and 8th Convocation Ceremonies of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), the Staff Productivity Promotion Unit of the University (SPPU) has organised training for staff on crowd management. 

The one-day training event which was organised for the staff of the Directorate of Environmental Safety, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, and other support service staff was held at the Faculty of Agriculture Lecture Hall, Permanent Site Campus of the University. 

Declaring the training session open, the vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, who doubled as one of the resource persons at the event, said the training became necessary because convocation ceremonies are associated with crowd.

“When you bring large groups of people together in one event, things can get out of hand quickly especially if you don’t have proper plan of crowd management."

He thanked the Head of the SPPU for organising the training, calling on the participants to listen carefully and apply the knowledge they would acquire.

Speaking on the topic: "Crowd Management and Crisis Prevention in the University,” Abdul Rahman said that the overall objective of crowd management is to keep people safe and healthy.

He called on the participants who would play major roles during the convocation to develop an effective and well-coordinated crowd management plan to help them assess risks and prevent any crowd-related challenge. 

In his presentation, Mr. Joseph Michael Okoro of the Department of State Services thanked the vice-chancellor for allowing him to share his view on crisis management ahead of the convocation.

He applauded the vice-chancellor for his love and commitment to staff training, saying that was the best gift a manager can give to his employees.  

Mr. Okoro highlighted some of the threats that may lead to crowd management crisis to include the lack of planning, inadequate intelligence, lack of cooperation among security agencies and breakdown of law and order, among others.

He called on participants to designate specific entry and exit lanes for attendees to prevent unnecessary congestion and reduce the likelihood of confusion or mishaps.

Okoro advised members of the University community to be vigilant and report every suspicious activity. 

Welcoming participants to the training, the Head of the SPPU, Dr. Abdulkareem Alhassan expressed his gratitude to the vice-chancellor for agreeing to host the training. 

He also thanked the resource persons for accepting to serve and share their knowledge with the participants, saying their knowledge was highly beneficial. 

He called on the participants to use the knowledge they would acquire for the success of the University and their personal development. 

Those who were present at the training included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Professor Aleruchi Chuku, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Partnerships,  Prof. Samaila Usman Dakyes, Director, FULafia Consult Ltd, Dr. Usman Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Musa Agbawu, Director, Environmental Safety, Wing. Commander, Mohammed Umar Awe (rtd), Deputy Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim Jaji, and the Head of Information and Public Relations, Abubakar Ibrahim.