NEMA Announces 30 Winners of 2026 National Essay Competition

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced the winners of its 2026 National Essay Competition, recognizing 30 students and corps members for their essays on disaster risk reduction, climate change, and technology in emergency response. This recognition ceremony took place at NEMA's headquarters in Abuja, led by the Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, with the director of Internal Audit, Aliyu Waziri, in attendance.

Umar emphasized that the competition was a crucial step in NEMA's mission to foster a disaster-aware culture among young Nigerians, enhancing emergency preparedness and resilience. She acknowledged that the agency received a substantial number of entries, leading to an extended assessment period to ensure fairness, transparency, and merit.

The Director General congratulated all winners and participants, stating that their research in Disaster Risk Reduction would equip them to contribute to a safer and more resilient Nigeria. She stressed that emergency management should become a culture, not a reactive measure. Consultant of the initiative, Hakeem Bello, highlighted that the competition aimed to strengthen emergency preparedness, disaster awareness, and resilience among young Nigerians.

The three essay topics—'My Role in Disaster Risk Reduction' for secondary school students, 'Climate Change and Disaster Management in Nigeria' for tertiary students, and 'Technology for Disaster Response: Opportunities and Challenges' for NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards—were designed to reflect NEMA's mandate. Bello praised the Internal Assessment Panel, Oversight Committee, and External Lead Assessor for maintaining the integrity of the screening and ranking process.

Each winner received cash prizes, plaques, and certificates, and Bello applauded all finalists and participants. He emphasized that the true value of the competition lies in fostering a generation that understands disaster management must begin with awareness, prevention, preparedness, and shared responsibility.