The International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) has called for investment and deployment of innovative technologies to predict, prevent, prepare and respond to natural and man-made disasters.
Mrs Njoupouo Mariatou, Secretary General, ICDO, made the call at the 2024 World Civil Defense Day and Safe School Inauguration at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Awka.
World Civil Defense Day is marked every March 1, to increase awareness about the importance of civil protection and emergency preparedness at both national and international levels.
This year’s commemoration had the theme – ‘Honour Heroes and Promote Safety Skills’.
Mariatou who was represented by Mr Maku Olatunde, Anambra State Commandant, NSCDC, said the use of technology would strengthen the coordination of civil defence structures in emergency and risks management.
She identified technologies such as drones, satellites, robots, intelligent sensors, 3D technology, geographic information systems, the Internet and Artificial Intelligence as tools that Civil Defence players could use to predict, respond and manage emergencies.
According to her, the use of technology will also improve the safety of the public and civil defence personnel.
The Secretary-General said that the year 2023 was marked by disasters such as cataclysmic earthquakes, floods and severe unrest of socio-political origins causing massive displacement of people to other countries.
“Other emergencies such road accidents, forest fires, landslides, hurricanes, etc, are phenomena that result in deaths and economic losses and deserve attention because every death in a disaster is the death of a healthy person.
“Civil defence players were active on all fronts to save lives, alleviate suffering and restore living conditions of affected persons.
“ICDO is inviting key players in civil defence to invest more in the development and integration of innovative technologies in all phases of disaster risk management, whether they be natural or man-made,” she said.
Mariatou reaffirmed ICDO’s commitment to ensuring training and technical assistance programmes tailored to the development of national
civil defence systems.
Also speaking, Mrs Ngozi Okoye, Safe School Coordinator, NSCDC, said the inauguration of the Safe School project was to protect students and secure school environments.
‘Attacks on our schools today and mass kidnapping of school children have presented a serious threat to Nigeria educational system and which Anambra state is not an exception.
“This project seeks to reduce the risk of school learning interruption by criminal elements, secure schools’ learners, teachers and host communities to guarantee seamless learning process in Nigeria,” she said.
Highlights of the event included inauguration of Safe School Project, presentation of 19 New Recruits, Silent Drills by NSCDC Special Female Squad, Stripling and Assembling of Rifles, among other activities.
