NEMA names winners of 2026 national essay competition

The National Emergency Management Agency has named the winners of its 2026 National Essay Competition after what it called a “comprehensive assessment, validation and independent corroboration process.”

Orire Fareedah Omolola of Murphy Tonia Schools in Lagos took first place in the Senior Secondary School category. Onminye Olive of Faith Academy in Goshen, Abuja, placed second, while Isah Zainab Ise of Government Secondary School in Gwarinpa, Abuja, finished third.

Adelanwa Emmanuel Oluwatosin of the University of Ibadan won the tertiary institution category. Memunat Olawore Omobolanle of the Nigeria Law School, Lagos Campus, came second, followed by Aminu Ibrahim Bello of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University in Katsina. In the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards category, Dabagal Marylyn Mialmoen took first place, with Abiola Olamide Zion and Stanley Sunday Iserhienrhien in second and third.

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comprehensive assessment, validation and independent corroboration process

The secondary school entrants wrote on “My Role in Disaster Risk Reduction.” Tertiary students addressed “Climate Change and Disaster Management in Nigeria,” while the NYSC category focused on “Technology for Disaster Response: Opportunities and Challenges.” NEMA said the competition aims to “strengthen disaster awareness, emergency preparedness and resilience among young Nigerians,” with entries submitted from across the country.

The agency announced a total prize pool of N3 million, divided equally among the three categories. Each category winner will receive N500,000, while the second- and third-place winners will receive N300,000 and N200,000. NEMA said judges assessed relevance, originality and clarity. The prizes will be presented on September 10, 2026, at NEMA headquarters in Abuja.

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strengthen disaster awareness, emergency preparedness and resilience among young Nigerians