Writing By Abdullahi Jalaludeen, Editing By Godwin Duru
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has trained social media influencers and broadcast houses on effective disaster risk communication to enhance public safety and resilience.
The one-day sensitization workshop, held in Kano, aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to convert technical data and emergency alerts into messages that resonate with the people.
Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi, NEMA Kano Territorial Coordinator, stated that the training was critical in today’s world, where disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe.
“The way we communicate risks and warnings to the public has never been more important,”
Abdullahi explained that forecasts, such as the seasonal climate prediction by NiMet and the annual flood outlook by NIHSA, are lifesaving tools only if the right people receive, understand, and act on them effectively.
He highlighted the importance of radio and social media in disaster risk communication, noting that radio remains a trusted companion in many Nigerian homes, especially in rural areas, while social media has transformed how quickly and widely information spreads.
The NEMA coordinator emphasized that disaster risk communication goes beyond relaying flood alerts or weather forecasts.
“It also involves passing timely updates during health outbreaks, sharing evacuation notices, and educating communities on fire safety, windstorms, and industrial hazards,” .
Abdullahi stressed that the media plays a vital role in bridging the gap between experts and citizens.
“You, our partners in the media, are not bystanders in disaster risk management. You are frontline educators, mobilizers, and sometimes lifesavers,”.
The Executive Secretary of Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, described the workshop as timely and crucial.
He noted that with the digital world shaping lives, the proper use of social media and broadcasting can reduce loss of lives, destruction of farmlands and houses, displacement of communities, and disruption of livelihoods.
The workshop featured presentations from resource persons, including Dr. Umar Shitu-Madigawa, who presented a paper titled “An Overview of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) by NiMET and AFO” , Abdullahi Jalaludeen, who presented a paper titled “Social Media as a Tool for Early Warning in Disaster Management,” and Mukhtar Ya’u, who presented a paper titled “Misinformation in Disaster Space.”
The workshop was attended by various social media influencers, journalists, and broadcast houses from Kano and Jigawa states.
ABDULLAHI JALALUDDEEN
