Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) is set to partner with relevant institutions and other stakeholders towards entrenching safety of lives and properties in the State.
The General Manager Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu disclosed this at the Command & Control Centre Alausa, while receiving delegation of the Disaster Management Programme of the University of Lagos, Akoka, stating that “the Agency’s door is open to partnership and collaboration with relevant institution towards building its capacity and response capability in disaster management”.
Tiamiyu noted that over the years, the Agency had given necessary support and assistance to undergraduate student from various universities in the areas of internship (SIWES), research and development as well as volunteering in emergency response. Other areas where the agency assist educational institution include; skill acquisition and training, adding that after the working out Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institution, the Agency will be willing to accept student for Industrial attachment programme posted to LASEMA Response Unit (LRU).
He further noted that in the last three years, there has been a remarkable improvement in emergency/ disaster management in the State, noting that the present administration has invested so much in the procurement of new equipment, provisions of training programs as well as establishment of additional dispatched Centres, which started with one Centre in Alausa-Ikeja to the establishment of the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) Cappa, Oshodi, Lekki by Lekki-Ikoyi Linked Bridge and Onipan on Ikorodu Road. While efforts is ongoing to replicate this Centres in Epe and Ijanikin by Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education bringing service closer to the people and reducing response time.
In his response, the leader of the delegation, Prof. Alabi Soneye,the Coordinator, Masters in Disaster Management (MDM) Programme, University of Lagos thanked the Lagos Emergency Management and stakeholders for their activities in the past and more recently in managing crisis and disasters in Lagos State, while noting that research carried out by the University can be integrated and used by the Agency,in areas of emergency/disaster mitigation and preparedness, especially in reducing disaster amongst others.He stated that the partnership will be of mutual benefit in all ramifications.