Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr.
Mustapha Maihaja, has called on journalists to help in educating the general public on disaster management and intervention efforts of the Agency across the country.
According to a statement issued by the Agency’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti, he made the call yesterday when the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT chapter, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He said “with the increasing incidences and magnitudes of disasters, it had become imperatives to widen the scope of awareness creation to reach communities that are at risk, provide necessary information and avoid misconceptions.
” The NEMA helmsman appreciated the female journalists and noted that “since NAWOJ is a gender arm of NUJ, it should help to educate the vulnerable population, particularly women and children that are often more affected during disasters.
” He also said “one of the mandates of the Agency is coordinating and harnessing resources of identified agencies and organisations with primary roles that are relevant to the management of various disaster situations.
This essentially enables coordinated responses for effectiveness and efficiency.
” Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Okoh Esene Stella, who led the delegation, thanked the NEMA boss for the audience and informed him that NAWOJ had been collaborating with NGOs to educate women and children, “especially on health awareness in addition to providing help to widows and vulnerable children in the federal capital territory.
” She gave the assurance that members of the association would cooperate with NEMA on its awareness and sensitisation activities.