National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has rewarded winners of its 2026 National Essay Competition, reaffirming its commitment to promoting disaster risk awareness, preparedness and resilience among young Nigerians.
Speaking at the recognition ceremony held on Thursday at NEMA Headquarters in Abuja, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, described the competition as an important initiative aimed at deepening understanding of disaster risk reduction and encouraging young Nigerians to take active roles in building safer and more resilient communities.
The Director General, who was represented by the Director of Internal Audit, Mr. Aliyu Waziri, said the competition would help promote disaster risk awareness and early preparedness, as well as foster a culture of disaster risk reduction and resilience among Nigerians.
She noted that the competition attracted a large volume of entries from across the country, necessitating an extended and rigorous assessment process to ensure credibility, transparency and fairness in the selection of the winners.
“Emergency management must increasingly become a culture rather than an activity undertaken only when disaster strikes,” she said.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar observed that the quality of ideas presented by participants provided encouraging evidence of the emergence of a new generation of disaster-conscious Nigerians who appreciate the importance of prevention, preparedness, innovation and resilience.
She congratulated the winners and other finalists for their outstanding performances and encouraged them to continue championing disaster risk reduction within their schools, institutions and communities.
The Director General further stated that finalists residing outside Abuja would receive their certificates and prizes through NEMA Zonal Directorates nearest to their locations.
The competition featured three categories. Winners in first, second and third positions received ₦500,000, ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively, while participants whose entries ranked among the top 10 in each category received certificates of recognition.
In Category A, for Senior Secondary Schools, participants wrote on the topic, “My Role in Disaster Risk Reduction.” Orire Fareedah Omolola of Murphy-Tonia Schools, Lagos, emerged first; Onminyi Olive of Faith Academy, Goshen, Abuja, came second; while Isah Zainab Ize of Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa, Abuja, placed third.
In Category B, for Tertiary Institutions, with the topic “Climate Change and Disaster Management in Nigeria,” Adelanwa Emmanuel Oluwatosin of the University of Ibadan emerged first. Memunat Olawore Omobolanle of the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, came second, while Aminu Ibrahim Bello of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, placed third.
In Category C, for NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards, participants wrote on “Technology for Disaster Response: Opportunities and Challenges.” Corps member Dabagal Marylyn Mialmoen emerged first, Abiola Olamide Zion, serving in Adamawa State, came second, while Stanley Sunday Iserhienrhien placed third.
In his remarks, Hakeem Bello, a media consultant who provided services to NEMA on the competition, urged the participants to become ambassadors of disaster prevention and preparedness.
He said the significance of the competition went beyond identifying and rewarding winners, noting that it was also intended to nurture a generation of young Nigerians who understand that effective disaster management begins with prevention, preparedness and informed action before emergencies occur.
The 2026 National Essay Competition forms part of NEMA’s sustained public awareness and disaster risk reduction initiatives aimed at strengthening a culture of preparedness and resilience across the country.
