Community-Based Disaster Risk Education: Strengthening Flood Awareness And Preparedness In Nigerian Communities

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Modern Research in Education, Teaching and Learning

Year: 2026

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Community-Based Disaster Risk Education: Strengthening Flood Awareness And Preparedness In Nigerian Communities

Dr. Olubunmi Adebola Olanipekun

ABSTRACT:

This study explores the role of community-based disaster risk education in enhancing flood awareness and preparedness in Nigerian communities. This research focus on impact of community-driven disaster education programmes to improve local knowledge on flood risk, preparedness, and response assessing how effective these programmes are in reducing flood-related losses. Flood risk in Nigeria is made worse by climatic, environmental, and human factors such as; poor urban land use planning, deforestation and poor infrastructure development. Poor population groups and the regions where flooding has become more frequent and severe, especially lowland areas such as Lagos and Port Harcourt, increase vulnerability. Such regions are flooded repeatedly, which affects the lives and has severe economic and health consequences. Even though the government has formulated policies and response frameworks on flood management, the success rate in Nigeria is relatively low because the policies are not well coordinated, funded and have a poor community involvement. This research also emphasizes the need to ensure that there is supplementary emergency instruction that draws on conventional learning and restores community participation in the fight against floods. This paper identified the contributions of community-based organizations through the Nigerian Red Cross Society and NEMA through raising the awareness of the vulnerable groups on flood risks. However, there are usually some unfavorable factors including; Cultural issues, lack of funds, and fragmented efforts that defeat them. Accordingly, the study recommends for a ‘multi-sectoral’ approach that bring together the indigenous knowledge, local community leaders and schools to enhance consciousness and protective factors. Therefore, improving local involvement and enhancing the socio-culturally relevant disaster education in Nigeria have a potential for improving the country’s flood preparedness and the subsequent decreased severity of the effects of repeated flooding.

Keywords: Climate Change; Community Preparedness; Disaster Risk Education; Flood Awareness; Nigeria