CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of Safety Engineers, the world's oldest professional safety society, announces its Nigerian Chapter will host NIGERIA PDC 2014, a three-day professional development conference and exposition in Lagos, Nigeria on May 21-23, 2014.

This marks the first time ASSE's Nigerian Chapter will host a professional development conference in Lagos, Nigeria, targeting an audience of the country's safety practitioners from a wide variety of industries including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and many others.

"The Nigeria PDC 2014 is aimed at bringing together all safety professionals and captains of industry under one roof in Nigeria with a common goal – giving voice to safety," said ASSE Nigerian Chapter President Jeff 'Vwede Obahor. "The event is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, providing the long overdue opportunity to give occupational health and safety a voice beyond the oil and gas industry."

Nigeria, which is poised to be Africa's top economy, according to recent government data, and listed as an emerging market by the World Bank, is experiencing enormous growth with its oil reserves and the construction projects needed to bolster its infrastructure.

"ASSE wants to work with allied interests, business and government officials to ensure safety initiatives are incorporated into every project undertaken in Nigeria and Africa as a whole," said ASSE President Kathy A. Seabrook. "We are proud of the work our Nigerian Chapter is doing to bring best practices in occupational health and safety to safety professionals on the continent."

The conference, which will be held at the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island in Lagos, is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants and have exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria.  For more details, updates or to register for the upcoming conference, please email pdc2014@nigeria.asse.org.

Founded in 1911, the Chicago-based ASSE has more than 35,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members from around the globe who lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to www.asse.org/newsroom.

SOURCE American Society of Safety Engineers