The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has rewarded winners of its 2026 National Essay Competition with cash prizes of up to N500,000 each.
The agency presented the prizes at a ceremony held at its headquarters in Abuja on September 10, following the assessment of entries submitted by participants from across the country.
The competition was organised in three categories — senior secondary school students, tertiary institution students and members of the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards.
Winners in the first, second and third positions received N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000, respectively, while participants who made the top 10 in each category were presented with certificates of recognition.
Speaking at the ceremony, NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the competition was designed to deepen young Nigerians’ understanding of disaster risks and encourage them to promote preparedness and resilience in their communities.
Umar, who was represented by NEMA Director of Internal Audit, Aliyu Waziri, said the large number of entries led to an extended assessment process to ensure credibility, transparency and fairness.
She said: “Emergency management must increasingly become a culture rather than an activity undertaken only when disaster strikes.”
According to her, the quality of the entries demonstrated that young Nigerians were developing a stronger understanding of disaster prevention, preparedness, innovation and resilience.
She congratulated the winners and finalists, urging them to become advocates for disaster risk reduction in their schools, institutions and communities.
In the senior secondary school category, Orire Fareedah Omolola of Murphy-Tonia Schools, Lagos, emerged winner with her essay, “My Role in Disaster Risk Reduction.”
Onminyi Olive of Faith Academy, Goshen, Abuja, took second position, while Isah Zainab Ize of Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa, Abuja, came third.
In the tertiary institution category, which focused on “Climate Change and Disaster Management in Nigeria,” Adelanwa Emmanuel Oluwatosin of the University of Ibadan emerged winner.
Memunat Olawore Omobolanle of the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, came second, while Aminu Ibrahim Bello of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, placed third.
For the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards category, Dabagal Marylyn Mialmoen emerged first with an essay on “Technology for Disaster Response: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Abiola Olamide Zion, serving in Adamawa State, came second, while Stanley Sunday Iserhienrhien took third position.
A media consultant to NEMA on the competition, Hakeem Bello, said the initiative went beyond rewarding academic excellence, noting that it was aimed at nurturing a generation of Nigerians who understand that effective disaster management begins with prevention and preparedness.
He urged the participants to become ambassadors of disaster prevention and preparedness in their communities.
NEMA said finalists living outside Abuja would receive their certificates and prizes through the agency’s zonal directorates closest to them.
The essay competition is part of NEMA’s public awareness and disaster risk reduction programmes aimed at promoting a culture of preparedness, resilience and informed action among Nigerians.
