NEMA Awards ₦500,000 to 2026 Essay Competition Winners

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) awarded ₦500,000 each to the first-place winners in three categories of its 2026 National Essay Competition during a ceremony at NEMA headquarters in Abuja on September 10. The competition targeted senior secondary school students, tertiary institution students, and members of the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards.

Second- and third-place winners received ₦300,000 and ₦200,000, respectively, with certificates of recognition for the top 10 entries in each category. NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, represented by Aliyu Waziri, stated that the competition aimed to enhance young Nigerians' understanding of disaster risks and promote community preparedness.

The quality of entries indicated a growing awareness among youth regarding disaster prevention and resilience. Winners included Orire Fareedah Omolola from Murphy-Tonia Schools, Lagos, in the senior secondary category, Adelanwa Emmanuel Oluwatosin from the University of Ibadan in the tertiary category, and Dabagal Marylyn Mialmoen in the NYSC category.

Hakeem Bello, a media consultant for NEMA, encouraged participants to advocate for disaster prevention.