By: Tunde Bolaji, Minna.
A Non-Governmental Organization, the Esteemed Hub Foundation, in collaboration with Education as a Vaccine (EVA), has held a dissemination meeting in Minna to advocate for gender-inclusive disaster preparedness and response policies in Niger State.
The meeting, attended by stakeholders from government agencies, civil society groups, academia, and traditional institutions, focused on highlighting the unique vulnerabilities faced by women and children during disasters, while urging the integration of gender-sensitive strategies into disaster management frameworks.
Declaring the event open, the Executive Director of the Esteemed Hub Foundation, Princess Doosugh Dorathy Abgadu-Adu, emphasized the need for inclusivity and equity in disaster response systems.
She described the gathering as an effort to transform disaster preparedness in Niger State into “a beacon of inclusivity, resilience, and equity.”
“The dissemination meeting focuses on sharing strategies for creating a more equitable environment, especially for women and children, in the face of disasters,” she said.
“Together, we have the power to ensure that when the next flood comes—and it will come—no woman will be left unheard, unprotected, or unseen.”
She pointed to the exclusion of women from critical disaster roles, citing statistics showing that women are 14 times more likely to die in disasters, with 80 percent receiving flood alerts only through male relatives and none holding senior disaster management roles in the state.
“These numbers represent more than data points—they represent lives, dreams, and futures that hang in the balance,” she added.
“Policy gaps systematically ignore their unique needs and perspectives. Yet, as caregivers, farmers, and community anchors, women possess extraordinary, untapped power to lead resilience efforts.”
Abgadu-Adu pledged to advocate for gender-audited disaster policies, including 35 percent representation for women on emergency committees, dedicated funding for female-centered disaster infrastructure, and the amplification of women’s voices across the state.
In his remarks, Egigwogwo Aliyu Mohammad, Acting Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Niger State, pledged the agency’s support for awareness creation and life-saving interventions.
Also speaking, Rakiyya Musa Jimoku, Climate Change Officer at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Niger State, noted that women and children remain the most affected during disaster events.
She called for increased collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations to boost awareness and improve early warning systems.
A key highlight of the event was the formal presentation of a report titled “Conduct of Research on Gender-Inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Response Policies in Niger State.”
The report, compiled by environmental consultant Ebere Akwuebu on behalf of the Esteemed Hub Foundation and supported by EVA, identified critical gaps in existing disaster policies and called for urgent reforms.
The findings emphasized the importance of including women in decision-making processes and adopting gender-sensitive practices across disaster management institutions.
The presentation spurred robust discussions among attendees, with consensus emerging on the need for government action to mainstream gender in its disaster response efforts.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to collaborative action, as stakeholders acknowledged that inclusive disaster planning is key to building safer, more resilient communities across Niger State.
