The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Port Harcourt Operations Office, has conducted a comprehensive capacity-building training for members of the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards (EMVs) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The exercise, held on Tuesday, 16th September 2025, at the Local Government Council Secretariat in Port Harcourt, was aimed at equipping corps members under the Community Development Service (CDS) group with the knowledge and practical skills required to enhance community disaster preparedness and response.
Leading the NEMA team, Chief Search and Rescue Officer, Mr. Fortunatus Anyanwu, charged the corps members to be more visible and proactive in their community development initiatives, especially in view of the 2025 NiMet flood prediction. He emphasized that EMVs should use their training to support sensitization campaigns at the grassroots level, reaching vulnerable communities with life-saving information.
The training covered both theoretical and practical sessions, with participants receiving guidance on NEMA’s mandate and roles, disaster management principles, the functions of EMVs, and basic first aid techniques, including the recovery position and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The corps members showed particular interest in the CPR demonstrations, asking practical questions which the facilitators addressed in detail.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, the CDS President expressed appreciation to NEMA for organizing the impactful programme. He pledged that the corps members would apply the lessons learned in their sensitization activities across schools, markets, and other public places to promote disaster awareness and resilience within communities.
16th September 2025
