Kabawa Community Pledges Inclusive Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction
By Rotimi Odofin
The Kogi State Government, in collaboration with growth companions and group stakeholders, has intensified efforts to advertise catastrophe preparedness and strengthen group resilience as a part of actions marking the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The initiative featured a roadwalk consciousness marketing campaign in Lokoja on Tuesday, October 13, which commenced beneath the flyover at Ganaja Junction and introduced collectively representatives of related ministries, departments and businesses, safety organisations, civil society teams and flood-prone communities.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Alhaji Mukta Attima, declared the roadwalk open after delivering a gap tackle in which he appreciated the state authorities, beneath the management of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for creating an enabling atmosphere for catastrophe danger discount consciousness and supporting efforts to strengthen catastrophe administration throughout the state.
Attima recommended the federal government for offering the required buildings and sources to enhance catastrophe administration, noting that sustained public consciousness and collaboration amongst related establishments had been important to defending lives and property.
The marketing campaign was organised in opposition to the backdrop of the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, with the theme, “Resilience Starts at Home.”
It emphasised the necessity for households and communities to undertake sensible measures to forestall disasters, put together for emergencies and shield weak residents, notably individuals with disabilities, ladies, kids and older individuals.
The Sustainable Family Health Care Foundation (SFHF), a non-governmental organisation in Kogi State, organised the initiative in collaboration with Christian Blind Mission (CBM), a world organisation based mostly in Abuja.
Ahead of the marketing campaign, the organisations had performed a three-day residential coaching for stakeholders from related ministries, departments and businesses, alongside representatives of flood-prone communities, together with Kwabawa, Adankolo, Gadumo, Old Polytechnic Quarters and Ganaja.
The coaching was designed to strengthen contributors’ understanding of catastrophe danger discount and equip them with sensible information to enhance preparedness, early warning, emergency response and group resilience.
In a goodwill and appreciation message, Kwabawa Community, one of many communities with individuals with disabilities, expressed gratitude to the state authorities and its growth companions for selling inclusive catastrophe preparedness.
The group notably acknowledged SFHF and CBM for his or her contributions to constructing native capability by way of coaching and consciousness initiatives.
According to the message, the coaching had helped residents respect that disasters, though generally unavoidable, may very well be prevented or their results considerably decreased by way of correct planning, well timed warnings and coordinated motion.
It famous that resilience begins with easy family measures, together with clearing gutters to forestall flooding, figuring out residents who might have help throughout emergencies, conserving emergency provides and establishing efficient communication and response preparations.
The group burdened that individuals with disabilities should be totally built-in into catastrophe preparedness plans, insisting that emergency warnings, evacuation procedures and response mechanisms must be accessible to everybody.
As a part of its dedication to constructing a disaster-resilient group, Kwabawa pledged to include individuals with disabilities into its preparedness plans, educate kids on catastrophe prevention and share the information acquired in the course of the coaching with different residents.
It additionally recognized family vulnerability registers, emergency kits and accessible early-warning programs as sensible measures for enhancing security and strengthening responses to floods, fires and different emergencies.
The group expressed appreciation to conventional leaders, together with the Hakimi of Kabawa and Sarkin Noma, in addition to representatives of Adankolo, Gadumo and Ganaja Village, and the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, for supporting efforts to advertise inclusive catastrophe preparedness.
It additional recommended individuals with disabilities, ladies, youths and group volunteers for his or her participation and dedication to constructing safer and extra resilient communities.
Other establishments acknowledged for his or her help included the Kogi State Ministries of Health and Environment; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA); National Orientation Agency (NOA); Federal Road Safety Corps; Nigerian Navy; Nigerian Red Cross Society; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and Federal Fire Service.
The group referred to as for sustained collaboration amongst authorities establishments, growth companions, conventional leaders and residents to make sure that catastrophe danger discount initiatives translate into sensible motion on the family and group ranges.
It reaffirmed its dedication to extending catastrophe preparedness past particular person households to the broader Lokoja Local Government Area and Kogi State.
The message, signed by Alhaji Idris on behalf of the Kabawa Community Disaster Risk Reduction Committee, concluded with a name for collective accountability in constructing safer, stronger and extra inclusive communities.
It reiterated that resilience begins at residence, begins in Kwabawa and should embrace individuals with disabilities.
