NEMA announces winners of 2026 National Essay Competition

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced the 30 winners of its 2026 National Essay Competition during a ceremony at its headquarters in Abuja. The initiative aimed to strengthen disaster awareness, emergency preparedness, and resilience among Nigerian students and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

Participants competed across three categories: disaster risk reduction for senior secondary schools, climate change and disaster management for tertiary institutions, and the use of technology for disaster response for NYSC members. Winners received cash prizes, with first-place recipients in various categories earning ₦500,000.

NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar noted that the high volume of entries required an extended and rigorous assessment process to ensure transparency and merit. She emphasized that the competition seeks to foster a culture where emergency management is part of everyday preparedness rather than a reactive measure taken only after a disaster occurs.