Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has moved disaster risk reduction education from boardrooms to the classroom, as the agency’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, personally engaged pupils of LEA Primary School, Durumi, Abuja, in an interactive session aimed at building a culture of safety from an early age. The visit, which took place on Thursday, 30 April 2026, is part of NEMA’s broader strategy to embed disaster prevention awareness at the grassroots level, recognising that children are not only vulnerable during emergencies but can also become powerful agents of change within their families and communities.
During the session, Mrs. Umar taught the young learners basic safety habits and simple disaster mitigation measures that can be applied both at home and in school. She covered practical steps to reduce risks associated with common emergencies such as fire outbreaks, flooding, and unsafe play environments. The Director General emphasised that children must be safety conscious, remain alert to potential dangers in their surroundings, and promptly report hazards to teachers, parents, or other responsible adults. “Disaster risk reduction is not only the responsibility of emergency responders; it is a shared duty that begins with awareness, preparedness, and responsible behaviour at the community level,” Mrs. Umar told the pupils.
The interactive session included a question‑and‑answer segment, during which the pupils were provided with useful information to deepen their understanding of disasters and the important roles they can play in promoting safety within their homes, schools, and communities. The children were visibly engaged, asking about what to do during a fire, how to identify flood‑prone areas, and how to help their friends stay safe. Mrs. Umar responded with age‑appropriate answers, using real‑life examples to drive home the message that prevention is always better than cure.
This grassroots initiative aligns with global best practices in disaster risk reduction. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has consistently advocated for integrating disaster education into school curricula, noting that children who receive such training are more likely to adopt lifelong safety habits and influence their families positively. In Nigeria, where floods, building collapses, fires and other emergencies claim hundreds of lives annually, early education is particularly critical. According to NEMA’s 2025 annual report, over 1,200 people died in flood‑related incidents alone, and more than 2 million were displaced. Many of these tragedies could have been mitigated with better preparedness and awareness at the community level.
Mrs. Umar’s visit is not a one‑off event but part of a sustained campaign by NEMA to take disaster risk reduction education beyond formal institutions and into communities, schools, and households across the country. The agency has previously organised similar sessions in secondary schools and rural communities, but this is the first time the Director General has personally led an outreach to a primary school, underscoring the importance of starting early. “Introducing children to disaster preparedness concepts at an early stage is essential to building safer and more resilient communities,” Mrs. Umar said.
Reactions from teachers and parents at LEA Primary School were overwhelmingly positive. Hauwa Sani, a class teacher, told our reporter that many pupils had never been taught what to do during a fire or flood. “This session has opened their eyes. They now know that they can save themselves and even help their younger siblings,” she said. A parent, Musa Abdullahi, whose son is in primary four, added, “I have never heard my child talk about safety before. Today, he came home and told me to check the gas cylinder for leaks. That is a big change.”
NEMA’s strategy aligns with the National Disaster Management Framework, which emphasises community‑based disaster risk reduction. By targeting primary school pupils, the agency is effectively building a safety culture from the ground up. These children will grow into adults who have internalised safety habits, potentially reducing the burden on emergency responders and saving lives in the long term. The programme also complements the efforts of other government agencies, such as the Nigeria Fire Service and the National Orientation Agency, which have launched public awareness campaigns on fire safety and flood preparedness.
Mrs. Umar explained that disaster risk reduction is not only the responsibility of emergency responders, but a shared duty that begins with awareness, preparedness, and responsible behaviour at the community level. She urged teachers to integrate simple safety lessons into everyday activities, such as identifying emergency exits, avoiding playing near drainage channels, and knowing how to call for help. She also promised that NEMA would provide educational materials and posters to support the school’s ongoing safety efforts.
The school visit underscores NEMA’s broader strategy of taking disaster risk reduction education beyond formal institutions and into communities, schools, and households across the country as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national resilience. With the rainy season already underway and flood warnings issued for several states, the timing of the awareness drive is particularly apt. By equipping children with knowledge and skills, NEMA hopes to reduce the vulnerability of communities and build a generation that views safety not as an afterthought but as a way of life.
As Mrs. Zubaida Umar concluded her visit, the pupils chorused a safety pledge, promising to share what they had learned with their families and neighbours. It was a small step, but one that could have enormous ripple effects. In a country where disaster preparedness has often been reactive, NEMA’s proactive engagement with the youngest citizens represents a shift in thinking. The Director General’s presence at LEA Primary School Durumi sends a clear message: disaster risk reduction begins with children, and the time to act is now.
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