Saving Lives, Protecting Children: Plan International, NEMA,NiMet Push for Grassroots Flood Safety




By Yusuf A. Yusuf, Damaturu

In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria's disaster response capabilities, Plan International Nigeria on Tuesday commenced a four day strategic message development workshop focused on flood preparedness and prevention.

The high impact training brings together a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including journalists, community leaders from Yobe and Adamawa states, staff from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet),the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and a security expert took place in Abuja.

At the heart of the initiative is the Zurich 12-year project, which began in 2024. Implemented by Plan International Nigeria in partnership with Plan International Switzerland, the project is designed to build long term resilience in flood prone communities across Yobe and Adamawa two states that have historically faced devastating seasonal floods.

Delivering a presentation at the event, Nubwa Ibrahim Bawuro, Social Behavioral Change Communications Officer for Plan International Nigeria, explained that the workshop is to design and develop a tailored, community centered flood early warning system.

"This workshop aims to strengthen flood preparedness, response,adaptation, and resilience. By putting communities at the center, we ensure that early warnings are not just issued, but understood and acted upon by those who need them most," said Bawuro.

Also in his presentation titled "Human Behaviour & Risk Perception, Trust,Misinformation & Cultural Beliefs" with the subtitle "From Information Deficit to Social Meaning," Mr. Tunde Aremu revealed that people are more likely to act when trusted messengers are involved, social norms support action, fear is reduced, systems appear fair, and behaviour feels socially safe.

The involvement of local journalists and community leaders clearly underscores a key strategy,using trusted local voices to disseminate timely,accurate, and actionable flood information.

The workshop is not just about flood response it’s about saving lives, protecting children, and empowering communities to take ownership of their own safety.

As the four day training progresses, participants will work collaboratively to craft clear, culturally sensitive, and actionable messages, bridging the gap between meteorological data and grassroots action.

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