The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, stepped into a classroom setting as she engaged pupils of LEA Primary School Durumi in an interactive session on disaster prevention and safety awareness.

The session, held on April 30, formed part of NEMA’s ongoing efforts to instill disaster risk reduction knowledge among young Nigerians and promote a culture of safety from an early age. According to the agency’s spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo, the initiative is designed to equip children with practical skills to identify and respond to potential dangers in their environment.

During the session, Umar emphasised the importance of adopting basic safety habits both at home and in school. She guided the pupils through simple but critical steps to reduce risks associated with everyday emergencies, including fire outbreaks, flooding, and unsafe play environments.

She encouraged the children to remain alert, safety-conscious, and proactive in reporting hazards to teachers, parents, or other responsible adults, stressing that early awareness can prevent many avoidable incidents.

Umar also highlighted that disaster risk reduction is not solely the responsibility of emergency responders but a shared duty that begins with individuals and communities. According to her, introducing children to safety and preparedness concepts at an early stage is key to building resilient communities.

The interactive session featured a question-and-answer segment, allowing pupils to engage directly, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of disaster management and their role in promoting safety within their homes and communities.

The school outreach reflects NEMA’s broader strategy of taking disaster risk education beyond formal institutions into grassroots communities, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening national resilience through awareness, preparedness, and collective responsibility.