The award celebrates NEMA’s innovative use of digital communication strategies to educate the public and coordinate effective responses during Nigeria’s annual flood seasons.

The presentation ceremony was held in Abuja last Wednesday, with the Chairman of Lagos NIPR, Comfort Obot Nwankwo, and President of Upticomm Marketing Company and Convener of the Lagos Digital PR Summit, Segun McMedal, presenting the award to Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA.

The Lagos Digital PR Summit, which began in 2016, is the premier event in sub-Saharan Africa focused on advancing digital public relations practice.

The Summit is a collaboration between Upticomm Marketing Company and the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The award presentation was part of activities marking the 9th Lagos Digital PR Summit, held at the MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos, on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

NEMA’s campaign was selected following a rigorous assessment process, with its innovative and impactful efforts recognized for utilizing digital platforms effectively to share vital information and engage the public and proactively engaging with stakeholders, providing timely updates to improve disaster response coordination.

NEMA also implemented communication strategies that significantly reduced the impact of flooding and saved lives across the country.

In her acceptance speech, Zubaida Umar expressed deep appreciation to the organizers for the recognition and dedicated the award to the hardworking staff of NEMA nationwide.

“This award is a testament to the dedication and resilience of our team who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians during times of crisis. It motivates us to do even more,” she said.

She reaffirmed NEMA’s unwavering commitment to enhancing public sensitization campaigns on disaster risks and prevention and promote nationwide risk management practices to mitigate disaster impacts.

The Agency will also strengthen partnerships with professional bodies like NIPR and the media to drive public awareness and disaster preparedness initiatives.

Umar also emphasized the need for continuous improvement in disaster management efforts and the importance of fostering collaboration with stakeholders to reduce avoidable disasters in the future.

This award highlights NEMA’s pivotal role in advancing effective communication in government and its dedication to safeguarding lives and property during emergencies.

According to this integrated marketing expert, machine learning algorithms now have the foolproof ability to predict potential risks based on historical data and past occurrences.

She maintained that this feat allows organizations to proactively address risks before they escalate and communicate with relevant stakeholders in a more informed manner and in the nick of time.

Recall that Omolaraeni Olaosebikan last year won a contract with The Meteorological Office UK (Met Office) to develop improved communications practices on flood crisis information and work out meaningful risk communication strategies to mitigate perennial flooding in Nigeria.

The project is being sponsored by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and it is expected to bring together several relevant government agencies, like NIMET, NASRDA, NIHSA, NEMA, etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

She said: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized risk communication by enabling organizations to analyze data, predict risks, and communicate with stakeholders more effectively with precision to solutions.

“In recent times, I have been involved in flood management, and natural disaster studies with the MET Office and FCDO which you are aware of and I desire I go steps further to be more involved in ways to help the vulnerable people amongst us. Those who day-to-day live in abject poverty and deprivation because of what natural disasters, pandemics, and other related crises have done to them and the government possibly not even looking to help their needs and preferences.”

The very engaging session took a better part of the female CEO’s time on Thursday even as she professionally responded to how to mitigate social vulnerability through AI-assisted risk communication strategies.

Her words,

“Risk communication essentially relies heavily on data analysis to identify potential threats, trends, and patterns. As I’ve said previously, AI-powered tools can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data from various sources, including social media, news articles, and reports, to uncover valuable insights. By analyzing this data, organizations can gain a better understanding of emerging risks and tailor their communication strategies accordingly.

“AI’s predictive capabilities are invaluable for risk communication. Machine learning algorithms can predict potential risks based on historical data and past occurrences. This foresight allows organizations to proactively address risks before they escalate and communicate with stakeholders in a more informed manner.”

Fielding questions on empowering vulnerable communities with risk communication and AI technology strategies for resilience and safety, the McEnies Global Communications CEO reacted and said:

“AI can seamlessly help to mitigate the risks identified by providing recommendations, actions, and solutions. It can equally use data-driven awareness to suggest the best ways to reduce or eliminate the risk and create safety nets for the target or vulnerable segments of society. The aggregates of insights drawn from this can ultimately help to either enforce policies through government agencies or legislation from the Parliament, or run advocacy programmes to deepen the right message and techniques for the target groups and relevant stakeholders especially during, before, or after emergency situations.”

While stressing on risk communication and AI technology strategies and dose for saving social vulnerability, Omolaraeni gave this submission to the media:

“I’m not here to stir any scare, but the reality is that the fourth industrial revolution is in full swing, bringing with it a wave of technological advancements that have the potential to reshape every aspect of human life across the globe. Artificial Intelligence is at the forefront of this revolution, promising to transform various sectors and drive inclusive growth. In Africa, could the adoption of AI and related technologies accelerate the continent’s development and help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The answer is: Yes!”

“Natural disasters are inherently unpredictable, but their consequences can be mitigated through early intervention and effective preparedness. These events can have devastating economic, social, and environmental impacts. Preventing natural disasters or minimizing their damage is a global imperative. AI, with its ability to process vast amounts of data, analyze patterns, and make real-time predictions, will definitely revolutionize our approach to disaster prevention.

“Before delving into the ways AI can assist in disaster prevention, it’s crucial to understand the nature of these events. Natural disasters are broadly categorized into geological, meteorological, hydrological, and climatological phenomena. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis fall under geological disasters, while meteorological disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Hydrological disasters involve floods and landslides, and climatological disasters encompass droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.

“One of the most crucial aspects of disaster prevention is providing early warnings to vulnerable populations. AI-powered systems can process data from various sources, including weather sensors, satellites, and social media, to detect early signs of impending disasters. For example, in the case of hurricanes, AI algorithms can analyze atmospheric data to predict their path and intensity accurately. These predictions enable authorities to issue timely warnings and evacuate individuals at risk-prone areas and saving countless lives”

In the aspect of enhancing social vulnerability with AI Technology and risk communication, she noted; “Data-driven artificial intelligence technologies are progressively transforming the humanitarian field, the use of digital technologies in humanitarian action again should not be seen as a new phenomenon. Yet, contemporary advances in computational power, coupled with the availability of vast amounts of data, have allowed for more widespread use of digital technologies in the humanitarian context.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the trend of using digital technologies to help maintain humanitarian operations. AI is broadly understood as a collection of technologies that combine data, algorithms, and computing power. These technologies based on my understanding consist of software and possibly also hardware systems designed by humans that, given a complex goal, act in the physical or digital dimension by perceiving their environment through data acquisition, interpreting the collected structured or unstructured data, reasoning on the knowledge, or processing the information, derived from this data and deciding the best action to take to achieve the given goal and mitigate against disaster.”

On the need to bridge the gap and explore the intersection of AI technology and risk communication, she said;

“Globally, modern workplaces are undergoing a profound digital transformation, and of course here in Nigeria, we shouldn’t be caught napping. In line with this global shift, we must start to recognize and utilize the unparalleled value of AI’s capabilities.

These capabilities bring enhanced operational procedures, heightened productivity upscale success stories, and a growing range of innovative service offerings.

As AI systems become increasingly integrated, we must learn to follow the trend, reshaping the foundation of communication in risk and disaster management, know how to predict right, and cater to diverse needs and preferences.

This transformation weakens the traditional ties within incumbent financial institutions and paves the way for entirely new operational models.

“AI is reshaping the landscape of risk communication, empowering organizations to analyze data, engage with stakeholders, and respond to crises more effectively. By harnessing the potential of AI and upholding ethical standards, organizations can enhance their risk communication strategies and build stronger relationships with stakeholders in today’s rapidly changing world. As technology continues to evolve, AI’s role in risk communication will become more significant, making it an indispensable tool for modern risk managers and communication professionals. And for us at McEnies Global Communications we’re moving at the speed of light to meet up with contemporary standards in tandem with global best practices,” Omolaraeni Olaosebikan stated.

The project which is being sponsored by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will bring together several relevant government agencies, like NIMET, NASRDA, NIHSA, NEMA, etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

The team will come together to co-develop improved communications products and protocols to reach the most vulnerable flood prone States and communities like Bayelsa, Lagos, Kebbi, Oyo, Kogi etc, to allow them make life-changing decisions.

The project is expected to last for 6 months and it will cover all the 36 states of Nigeria including FCT, Abuja.

During this period McEnies Global Communications is expected to professionally liaise with Nigeria’s local media across all channels, under a painstaking high-level engagement with government delegates and agencies that are crucial for the success of the well-intentioned project.

This upwardly mobile wholly owned Nigerian company, McEnies Global Communications that is known with vast expertise in strategic, integrated marketing services and digital marketing secured this deal with FCDO and UK Met Office in September, 2023 a confirmation from the company has revealed.

Met Office, is the United Kingdom’s national weather service and an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It’s also known for making meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climate change.

Speaking about its latest feat in blue cheap clientele expansion, Omolaraeni Olaosebikan, the CEO of McEnies Global comms, said the latest milestone would enable the firm to continue to create a cohesive creative communications solution and further strengthen the agency’s ability to offer clients in Nigeria and outside Nigeria value for their money with premium and enduring satisfaction.

She added that sealing a deal with UK FCDO and UK Met Office is a confirmation of her company’s commitment to enhance its communication services offering for clients across the globe.

“Nigeria is one of the biggest economies in sub-Saharan Africa and creates opportunities for an innovative communications firm such as McEnies Global Communications.

“We will not rest on our oars in making use of our global network advantages, coupled with our local professional services experience, to provide strategic communications support to all our clients and of course our fresh contractual agreement with FCDO and UK Met Office to work out communication protocol that can help to mitigate against perennial flooding in Nigeria, and as well create a new conversation and right message with preferred language among vulnerable segments of the society will no doubt project us to the world as a competent and reliable outfit whose integrity, moral rectitude and Jack for excellence can never be compromised.

“This meritorious rise for us as a brand at McEnies Global Communications by dint of hardwood validates our strength in doing what we know how to do best and we are also committed to expand frontiers of integrated marketing communication, unlock more opportunities, break barriers and deepen customers’ satisfaction whilst also putting into cognizance industry standards and codes of ethics in tandem with global best practices,” she said.

In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, the head of NEMA’s press unit, Manzo Ezekiel, said that the agency had sent a variety of food products that had been authorized for the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan to care for the stranded Nigerians who are awaiting an airlift home in Port Sudan.

According to the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, the food supplies are intended to support Nigerian people while the ongoing evacuation is reinforced.

The items consist of 100 bags of 10kg rice, 50 bags of 10kg beans, 10 cartons of seasoning, 50 cartons of spaghetti, and 5 bags of iodized salt.

The statement read in part: “The items were airlifted on Thursday to Port Sudan by Tarco Aviation that brought 123 stranded Nigerians to Abuja. The latest arrival has brought the total number of evacuated stranded Nigerians to 2,246 in 12 different flights.

“It must be emphasized that the evacuation exercise is continuing with efforts being made to engage some Nigerian airlines to strengthen airlift of Nigerian citizens that are willing and have been profiled to be transported back home as a result of the unfortunate conflict in Sudan.”