, on Monday organised an Inter-Secondary Schools Quiz Competition on disaster reduction strategies, targeting behavioral change,){kind=link}
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Monday organised an Inter-Secondary Schools Quiz Competition on disaster reduction strategies, targeting behavioral change, attitude, early education among students.
The Head NEMA Operations Office Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Kafindangi, said the event was in commemoration of 2025 International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) to align with global community on reflecting progress in disaster reduction.
Kafindangi, who represented by Mr Tukur Abubakar, said the event aimed to strengthen agency’s resolve toward building resilient society.
He said this year’s event.with theme ” Find Resilience, Not Disaster ” was to enhance peoples disaster response, management, preparedness and resilience.
” It reminds us that every naira, every dollar, and every effort spent on prevention and preparedness saves countless more that would have been spent on disaster response and recovery.
” A nation that invests in resilience invests in its survival, we have chosen to commemorate this important day with a IDDR Secondary Schools Quiz Competition,” he said.
He highlighted that the initiative was not just a competition, it is a visionary step towards building a culture of disaster awareness and preparedness among our young people.
The Head stressed that beginning to educate children early about the importance of disaster prevention, emergency preparedness, and safety consciousness, was laying foundation for a safer and more resilient Nigeria.
” This initiative aligns perfectly with the vision and mission of NEMA, which is poised to “build a culture of disaster prevention, preparedness, and risk reduction across all levels of society.
” The effort promote a nation that is proactive in saving lives, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring sustainable development.” Kafindangi stated.
He pointed out that the focus was on the “Catch Them Young” strategy, a concept that recognizes the power of early education in shaping future attitudes and behaviours.
The Head called on governments at all levels, federal, state, and local to take heed to this year’s theme and prioritize resilience over reaction.
” Let us invest more in disaster prevention, public awareness, risk mapping, infrastructure safety, and community-based disaster education.
” Every investment made today toward resilience is a life saved tomorrow, ” he appealed.
He further urged stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, educators, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media to continue working hand in hand with NEMA to ensure that disaster management becomes everyone’s business.
The Principal of FGC Sokoto, Alhaji Dahiru Shehu, explained that celebrating the 2025 IDDR called for greater commitment stressing the need to stop disasters from happening and prevent them from becoming tragedies.
” We cannot predict every hazard, but we can prepare for them. Most importantly we cannot afford to continue funding disasters, we must fund resilience now, he said.
The Newsmen reports that quiz competition was anchored by Mss Alheri Bla, a National Youth Service.Corp (NYSC) member while Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Secondary School energies first position with 100 marks.
The second position went to Federal Government College (FGC) Sokoto with 95 marks, while Blue Crescent Secondary School came third having scored 90 marks and Aliyu Magatakarda Secondary came fourth with 40 marks respectively.
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