Tackling Insecurity Requires Cutting-edge Technology, Best Practices – ASIS Int’l
Hudu Yakubu, Abuja.
The world’s largest association for security professionals, ASIS International, founded as the American Society for Industrial Security, says tackling insecurity requires cutting-edge technology, ideas, and best practices.
With more than 37,000 members worldwide, the Chairman, ASIS Abuja Branch 273, Mr Edward Orim, stated this in Abuja during the association’s 2023 Annual General Meeting and Awards Night.
Mr Orim said that the chapter was providing a platform for its members and other security stakeholders to come up with cutting-edge technology, ideas, and best practices with a view to addressing security challenges in Nigeria.
He described ASIS as an industrial security organization, which is open to partnership with government agencies, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He reiterated the commitment of ASIS International to advancing security professionalism in curbing insecurity through building partnership among leaders, experts, and security professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This year has been nothing short of extraordinary for our chapter. We not only successfully hosted the Sub-Saharan African Conference right here in the heart of Abuja in July, but also witnessed a remarkable surge in our membership base.
“The resounding success of the conference showcased the dedication and expertise of our members, firmly placing ASIS Abuja on the regional and international map.
“This is a testament to the value that ASIS International provides to security professionals in Abuja.
“It is inspiring to see our community expanding, fostering a network of security experts committed to excellence, continuous learning, and networking with a view to keeping everyone safe,” said Mr Orim.
He urged security experts to join the prestigious association for the numerous benefits it offers to security professionals and individuals interested in the field.
He identified some of the benefits to include access to global networking opportunities, professional development, certification support, leadership opportunities, collaborative environment, and advocacy representation.
In his keynote address, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (retd), National Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, harped on stronger private sector participation in advancing national security.
“In contemporary discourse, national security involves the collective ability of a country to protect its people, interests, values, and critical infrastructure.
“It is also about growing and developing the national economy; preparing and responding to natural disasters, environmental degradation, and climate change; ensuring food security; protecting its digital footprint against cyberattacks or exploitations, among others.
“The idea has also gone beyond being strictly a government’s business to a shared responsibility among the citizenry, with both state and non-state actors involved in various components of national security,” Musa said.
He stressed the need for the public and private sectors to engage in effective partnership to protect people, facilities, and national infrastructure assets.
This, according to him, is critical as threats to national security have evolved and become even more complex, with the root causes of insecurity often embedded in the imbalances within the social development fabric of the society.
Public-Private Partnership
According to Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (retd), the task of maintaining and ensuring peace and security in the country is easily achievable when the private sector collaborates and cooperates with the public sector.
He particularly said that the collaboration and cooperation should be in the areas of security assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of critical components of national security.
He also stressed the need for the private sector to embed national security-value projects in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
He identified some of the CSR programmes as youth empowerment, community development, law enforcement and infrastructure development endeavours, as highlighted in the various national policy frameworks for preventing and countering violent extremism.
During the award ceremony, ASIS Abuja Security Development Award 2023 went to Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; and Mr Yusuf Bichi, Director General of the Department of State Services.
Others are Senator Haliru Jika, Senate and House Committee Chairman, Police Affairs; and Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (retd.), National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre.
Outstanding Journey Management and Escort Service Provider 2023 Award went to AlphaFort, while Beacon Consulting Ltd. received the Outstanding Risk Management and Consulting Company 2023 Award.
Also awarded were Graceworth Nigeria Ltd. as the Outstanding Secure Transportation and Close Protection Company, while Edgard Consulting Ltd. received the Outstanding Security Training and Education Services Company 2023 Award.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Command and Control, received the Government /Regulatory Sector 2023 Award.
Olumuji thanked ASIS International, Abuja Chapter, for the award and for recognizing the good work the FCT Administration was doing to improve security in the nation’s capital.
