The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged students to embrace disaster risk awareness and preparedness to build safer and more resilient communities.
Dr Nura Abdullahi, NEMA Head of Operations in Kano State, made the call on Tuesday during an inter-school safety quiz competition to mark the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The event, organised by the agencyβs Kano Operations Office, had the theme, βResilience Starts at Homeβ.
Abdullahi said the theme emphasised that disaster resilience began with safer homes, informed households, responsible environmental practices and timely responses to early warnings.
He identified fire safety, the proper use of electrical appliances, clearing drainage channels, responding to flood warnings and observing road safety rules as measures to prevent emergencies and reduce their impact
βOur schools have an important role to play in promoting a culture of safety by educating students about common hazards, early warnings and appropriate safety measures.
βWe can equip young people with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and contribute to the safety of their families and communitiesβ he said
Abdullahi said the competition, tagged Triple Safety 2026, focused on three critical areas: fire safety, flood safety and road safety.
He said the initiative would allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of fire prevention and safe evacuation, flood preparedness and early warnings, as well as responsible road use.
βThe purpose of this competition goes beyond winning prizes. It is to strengthen safety awareness among young people and encourage them to become advocates of disaster risk reduction in their schools, homes and communities,β he said.
The NEMA official explained that disaster risk reduction was a shared responsibility requiring sustained collaboration among government institutions, communities, the private sector and individuals.
According to him, although effective emergency response remained essential, greater emphasis should be placed on disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
Abdullahi said early hazard identification, prompt communication of warnings, appropriate preventive measures and community preparedness before emergencies could significantly reduce avoidable losses and strengthen resilience.
He commended the participating schools, teachers and students for their cooperation, and enthusiasm, as well as NEMA staff, government agencies and partner organisations, for promoting disaster risk awareness and supporting the initiative.
He urged students to apply the safety lessons learned during the competition, stressing that preparedness required practical action and collective responsibility.
He reaffirmed NEMAβs commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness, promoting community resilience and coordinating efforts to reduce disaster risks across Nigeria.
The competition featured students from Saβadatu Rimi College Staff School, Kano, and Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, with Saβadatu Rimi emerging winner and FGC finishing second.
Certificates were presented to participants from the two schools, while the overall wining school received a plague.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is commemorated annually to raise awareness of disaster risks and encourage measures to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience.
