Kogi State Government has said it will develop new areas of synergy with the National Emergency Agency, NEMA, to achieve disaster risk reduction in the State. The State Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, gave this indication while speaking at a seminar on disaster reduction in Lokoja on Wednesday. The Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Disaster
Management, AVM Gabriel Abdul, rtd. Said the State Government learnt a lot of lessons from the flood disaster of last year, and disclosed that the State has started to rebuild the infrastructures destroyed by the flood including roads and schools.
Awoniyi said the State Government was developing a housing estate where some of those displaced by the flood will be resettled. He called on the people of the State to have attitudinal change against disobedience of environmental laws, which he said, aggravated the effects of the flood disaster.
The Deputy Governor said the State Government was making arrangements to equip the State Emergency Management Agency and also support voluntary agencies in the State for better response to disaster situations.
The workshop, organised by NEMA and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, UNISDR, centred on the implementation of an International action plan on disaster risk reduction tagged “Hyogo framework for Action”, which was signed by UN member States in Japan in 2005.
Stakeholders at the workshop enjoined the Federal and State Governments to develop strong institutions for disaster risk reduction.
Also ,the major priority of officials in the Kogi State is to work with Capt Idris Wada,the governor to improve the living standard of the people .
Yomi Awoniyi, Kogi State Deputy Governor gave the indication at the 50 year birthday celebration of his wife Mrs Olutokunbo Awoniyi and their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Awoniyi,said the present administration in the State is resolute in the provision of gains of democracy it promised the people.
While describing 50 and 25 as very significant in the lives of an individual, family and nation,nothing he noted can be achieved in life without the help of God.
He noted that God has greatly assisted the present administration in the state to excel,called on Mrs Awoniyi to see her attainment of 50 years on earth as a call for more service to the state and humanity in general.
In his sermon,Pastor Noruwa Edokpolo,said there is more to being a woman than bearing children.
He urged women to strive to impact the society in view of their greater role in nation building.
Edokpolo pointed out that until people learn to live on the plan of God for their lives,they live the major road of life and walk on the pathway.
The Clergy man said man’s purpose for creation was to help other people, called on Mrs Awoniyi to assist her husband in taking decisions that will impact the Kogi state.
In her testimony, Mrs Awoniyi, thanked God for his faithfulness adding that in spite the several challenges of life, God has remained a partner and support.
The birthday and wedding anniversary which was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, was also attended by Hajia Halima Wada, Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Wife of the Lagos State Governor,and the Deputy Governor’s wives of Edo,Anambra,Enugu.
The occasion also had Members of the National Assembly from Kogi State,members of the kogi State Executive Council ,Businessmen, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Captains of industries,friends and relatives of the Awoniyi’s who graced the occasion.
