In a renewed effort to strengthen the partnership between the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as well as to revive camp-based training activities, the NEMA Port Harcourt Operations Office, led by the Head of Operations, Mr. Eric Ebhodaghe, visited the NYSC Orientation Camp at Nonwa Gbam, Rivers State, on 12th August 2025 to deliver a lecture on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the NEMA/NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards (EMVs) initiative.
The session began with an introduction of NEMA by Mrs. Eneh and Mrs. Oby Amah, NYSC Schedule Officers for the NEMA Community Development Service (CDS) group, who highlighted the agency’s mandate and collaborative programmes with NYSC.
Delivering the lecture, Mr. Ebhodaghe conveyed the warm regards of the Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, to the corps members. He explained the position of NEMA as the nation’s lead emergency management agency, coordinating resources for the effective and efficient management of disasters across Nigeria.
He emphasized the importance of corps members being aware of potential environmental and social hazards, understanding their impacts, and taking proactive measures to mitigate risks. He encouraged them to promptly report identified hazards to relevant authorities to enable preventive or mitigative action that can save lives and protect property.
The Mr Ebhodaghe further explained the role of the NEMA/NYSC Vanguards and the numerous training opportunities available under the scheme. He urged corps members to join the NEMA CDS group after camp to gain practical knowledge and skills in disaster management, emergency response, and community resilience.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the NEMA team to advocate for the inclusion of more Local Government Areas in the NEMA/NYSC Vanguard scheme to broaden its reach and impact.
The lecture was well-received, generating active engagement from the corps members and strengthening NEMA’s visibility within the NYSC community. The initiative reinforces the commitment of both agencies to build a generation of young Nigerians who are informed, prepared, and actively engaged in disaster risk reduction.
12th August, 2025
