Institute of Emergency Management to be launched tomorrow, says Oke-Osanyintolu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, yesterday, advocated the need for disaster risk reduction to be integrated into governance at all levels.

They emphasised that disaster management is a shared responsibility, requiring collaboration between all sectors to transform from a reactive to a preventive model and adapt to climate change, ultimately protecting communities and development gains.

The duo, who also stressed the need to embrace new technologies and innovations, and, most importantly, empower the citizens with the awareness and strategies they need to be prepared, spoke during the 2025 national and state emergency management agency conference in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised that the true strength of the nation lies in the shared readiness and unity when facing challenges.

He said: “As we engage in discussions throughout this conference, let us pledge to move beyond just policies on paper to taking real and tangible actions that will lead to a safer, more resilient Nigeria so that we can transform challenges into opportunities, and build a nation where resilience is not just a concept but also a lived reality for every Nigerian.”

The governor noted that every state in Nigeria faces its own set of challenges, be it flood, fire, epidemic, industrial accidents, or the unpredictable impacts of climate change.

On her part, the DG of NEMA noted that Lagos had shown that when vision meets commitment, progress is inevitable.

She said that government at all levels and the citizens must embrace a simple truth: emergency management can no longer be reactive, it must be predictive, preventive and participatory.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that Lagos is excited about hosting the first SEMA conference, pledging that outcomes of the conference would be implemented, especially as the state government is committed to building resilience at the local level because it is key to managing emergencies and disasters at the grassroots level.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that part of the efforts to build resilience at the grassroots is why the state’s Institute of Emergency Management would be formally launched tomorrow, while the first set of students would be admitted in December.

Similarly, in his welcome address, Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, said that for too long, disaster management in the nation was driven by reaction.