The Lagos State Government has officially inaugurated the Institute of Disaster Management at the Igando Relief Camp, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s emergency response capabilities.
The new institute, which will be supervised by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), is designed to serve as a central training hub for emergency professionals and first responders from across Nigeria.
The announcement was made at the closing of the inaugural three-day National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) conference, held in Lagos.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, stated that the institute will be instrumental in equipping personnel with the advanced skills required to effectively manage and respond to various disasters.
He commended the leaders of SEMA from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for their participation, highlighting the conference’s role in “shaping a safer future for all Nigerians.”
“Over the past days, we have shared knowledge, strengthened partnerships, and built a stronger network of emergency managers across Nigeria,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu said.
A key moment at the conference’s closing ceremony was the presentation of personally signed portrait frames to each state SEMA delegation.
The Permanent Secretary described his signature as a symbol of “true collaboration and teamwork” and an “unwavering commitment to our collective mission of saving lives and protecting our communities.
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu also extended gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his administration’s investment in emergency management, and praised Lagos’s first responders, partners—including NEMA and IOM—and the entire LASEMA team for their role in the successful national conference.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada