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.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop on Thursday in Kano, Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Kano Territorial Coordinator, said the workshop was not only timely but also critical.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop focused on the role of social media and broadcast houses in disaster risk communication.
Abdullahi said the training was organised to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to convert technical data and emergency alerts into messages that resonate with the public.
“As we continue to witness the growing frequency and severity of disasters — whether from natural causes or human activities — the way we communicate risks and warnings to the public has never been more important,” he said.
He explained that forecasts such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) are lifesaving tools — but only if the right people receive, understand, and act on them effectively.
“Radio remains a trusted companion in many Nigerian homes, especially in rural areas. It speaks the language people understand and reaches places where roads may not.
“Meanwhile, social media has transformed how quickly and widely information spreads. It gives us the opportunity to engage, clarify, and mobilise almost instantly,” the coordinator said.
He added that disaster risk communication goes beyond relaying flood alerts or weather forecasts, noting that it also involves providing timely updates during health outbreaks, sharing evacuation notices, and educating communities on fire safety, windstorms, and industrial hazards.
“You, our partners in the media, are not bystanders in disaster risk management. You are frontline educators, mobilisers, and sometimes lifesavers.
“Your voice can calm panic, correct misinformation, and inspire preparedness. Your role is vital in bridging the gap between experts and citizens,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that disaster preparedness and resilience should not rest on the shoulders of the government alone, stressing that it should be a collective responsibility shared by civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional institutions, and others.
“Let’s build a Nigeria where the right information gets to the right people at the right time — because informed communities are safer communities,” he added.
The Executive Secretary of the 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 could reduce loss of lives, destruction of farmlands and houses, displacement of communities, and disruption of livelihoods.
Abdullahi-Kubarachi commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for supporting SEMA’s interventions, saying, “Disaster risk communication remains crucial for accurate and timely information that saves lives.”
One of the resource persons, Dr. Umar Shitu-Madigawa of NEMA, presented a paper titled: “An Overview of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) by NiMet and AFO.”
Similarly, Abdullahi Jalaludeen presented a paper titled: “Social Media as a Tool for Early Warning in Disaster Management,” while Mukhtar Ya’u of PR Nigeria presented a paper titled: “Misinformation in the Disaster Space.”
NAN reports that the event featured panel discussions and a roundtable session for experience sharing on strengthening collaboration between NEMA and the media for timely and ethical disaster risk communication.
The workshop was attended by a representative of the NUJ Chairman in Kano, Murtala Adewale; the Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel; various social media influencers; journalists; and representatives of broadcast houses from Kano and Jigawa states, among other stakeholders.