Rakiya A. Muhammad
Stakeholders have gathered at a workshop in Sokoto to enhance their disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and early warning response capabilities through innovative technologies and data-driven methods.
It was organised by Information, Innovation and Impact (3iS) to support the deployment of the ANTICIPA platform, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered community intelligence system designed to strengthen anticipatory action, early warning systems, and humanitarian decision-making through local knowledge, real-time data, and advanced analytics.
Workshop participants included Sokoto SEMA Desk Officers from all 23 Local Government Areas, district heads, and representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other key stakeholders.
The training aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the platform and its role in enhancing disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and emergency response.
The workshop also focused on developing a roadmap for community-level implementation of the ANTICIPA platform and on strengthening stakeholder engagement to ensure a successful pilot phase and adoption across Sokoto State.
The Executive Secretary of Sokoto SEMA, Prof. Abubakar Sambo Junaidu, described the workshop as timely and highly relevant, particularly as the state approaches the peak of the rainy season.
He noted that the training offered stakeholders a valuable opportunity to strengthen their capacity through innovative technologies and data-driven approaches.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hon. Aminu Liman Bodinga, commended the organisers for introducing an innovative platform to strengthen disaster preparedness and response across the state.
He urged Local Government Chairmen, district heads, and community leaders across the 23 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State to continue supporting the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Sokoto SEMA in responding to emergencies and disasters.
Hon. Bodinga also urged residents to avoid constructing buildings on waterways and to refrain from dumping refuse and other waste materials into drainage channels, particularly before and during the rainy season.
He emphasised that these practices contribute significantly to flooding and other environmental hazards.
