Today the 10th January, 2023 ASATTAHIR International Foundation has conducted a validation exercise of its research findings on Fire Disaster Preparedness and Response in Sokoto state.
As part of the protocol and requirements for dessimination of Policy-Driven Research, stakeholder agencies that contributed to the research and/or provided information need to validate the findings made by the research and its outcomes.
The research which was launched by the Foundation in April, 2022 with the aim to examining the dynamics of the incidences of fire disasters and to evaluate and revamp the level of preparedness and response mechanisms in the state in order to mitigate the accompanying impacts of fire disasters on the economy, environment and the people has come to successful completion.
The Executive Secretary of the Foundation Professor Yahaya Tanko Baba who anchored the activity in his remarks thanked the stakeholders in attendance for their immense contributions and continued support throughout the research period.
He briefed the gathering on the rationale of the research, its stages and summary of findings and also assured the stakeholders that all valid observations and suggestions will be effected ahead of the dissemination.
He highlighted that the research found that the rate of fire outbreak in Sokoto metropolis is very high and accompanying impacts of the raging fire incidences in the state are divastating.
He gave an overview of the blueprint the research came up with assuring if the relevant authorities including the private sector and donor agencies adopts the recommendations, it will revamp the preparedness and response mechanisms to a global standard and drastically reduce the rate of fire incidences and the impacts that accompany such disaster.
The Head of Programs and Research of the Foundation, Rufus Yagkong facilitated the validation session. He took the stakeholders through the findings of the research noting all observations and inputs.
The exercise presented the synopsis of the study to the group, particularly vital information that relates to the official records of the concerned agencies in attendance. There was indepth scrutiny of the data presented and the agencies validated the information as being correct and accurate as per official records.
Stakeholders during the validation exercise comprised of the representatives of the State and Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, State Ministry of Environment, The Nigeria Red Cross Society and the research team.
The exercise was concluded with participants signing the attendance sheet and group photograph in memory of the August event.
