In furtherance of its awareness campaign on disaster risk reduction and mitigation strategies, the National Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood.
The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, made the disclosure on Tuesday while receiving a team from Nollywood, led by the Managing Director, Nollywood Factory and Executive Producer of “Last Flight to Abuja”, Obi Emelonye, who visited him in Abuja to present a copy of the film, which has already been showed in major cities of the world.
Sani-Sidi said the Agency found the Nollywood industry an appropriate avenue to promote public awareness because most Nigerians living in every part of the world are keen on watching films from the industry.
He expressed delight on the success of the film, which projected efforts in disaster risk reduction strategies in Nigeria.
He congratulated Emelonye for producing an internationally acclaimed film that has attracted positive reviews.
Sani Sidi told the film producer that NEMA will continue to collaborate with Nollywood and others in the industry to project “what we have been doing and showcase our ability and capabilities in managing disaster in the country.
“We would always partner with any project that encourages and promotes positive development and image of Nigeria and Nigerians in disaster management.”
The NEMA boss also received the “Most Responsive Government Agency” award on behalf of NEMA from the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development.
The Executive Director of CPALD, Tunde Salman, said one of the measurements of good governance is the level of responsiveness by government agencies and that given the promptness of NEMA to emergency situations, his organisation found it worthy to single it out for the award.
Responding, Sani Sidi dedicated the award to staff of the agency that he said have worked assiduously to ensure that NEMA becomes the number one emergency response agency in Africa.
He said: “I humbly accept the recognition and assure you that it will ginger us to do more as an agency.
“We will continue to collaborate with organisations like yours to serve as motivation for other agencies.”
NEMA partners Nollywood on disaster management
