Clement Isong Foundation, ActionAid Push for Youth Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management
The Clement Isong Foundation, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria under the Strategic Partnership Agreement II Project (SPA II), has made a strong case for the inclusion of youths in disaster risk management.
The advocacy was made in Uyo at the weekend during a one-day forum themed “Youth-Led Enhancing Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response Mechanisms,” designed to develop solutions for building community resilience and improving emergency response systems.
The event, which drew participants from government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and grassroots groups, shared insights on the urgent need to refine the state’s emergency frameworks to ensure better coordination and faster responses during crises.
Speaking on behalf of the Clement Isong Foundation, Mr. Utibe Ekanem highlighted the foundation’s commitment to inclusive resilience-building and stressed the importance of community-driven efforts in disaster management.
In his words, “Women and young people are not just beneficiaries but frontline actors in shaping sustainable emergency response systems.”
Young representatives from Oron and Ibeno Local Government Areas shared real-world success stories of youth-led interventions. These stories ranged from community-led sanitation campaigns to advocacy efforts that triggered local government action on erosion control, and other environmental and disaster-related challenges.
Highlighting the gaps, participants noted the absence of a formal state emergency response strategy, which the lamented has limited community-level coordination, and the need for greater inclusion of youth and women in planning and execution.
“There is an urgent need for a structured framework that can guide response efforts and ensure no community is left behind, * one participant said during the session.
Stakeholders from institutions such as the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment, Fire Service Commission, and various media organizations corroborated the calls for youth involvement in disaster risk management.
In her closing remarks, Wonderfullove Pius, the media contact for the Clement Isong Foundation, expressed optimism about the future. “We are building a future where communities in Akwa Ibom are not only prepared for disasters but are also resilient and empowered to recover stronger,” she said.
Highpoint of the forum was the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State Disaster Management Technical Working Committee. This committee was tasked with refining a draft disaster management framework based on national best practices and adapting it to local contexts to ensure effective and inclusive implementation.