RIMSON Urges Nigerians to Stop Reacting to Disasters, Embrace Risk Anticipation

By Praise Chinecherem

The Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) has called on Nigerians to move away from a culture of reacting to disasters after they occur and embrace proactive risk anticipation and prevention to build a safer and more resilient nation.

The National President of RIMSON, Dr. Abbas Idriss, made the call during the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event, held at the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, University of Port Harcourt, also featured the induction of new Fellows and Associate Members into the professional body.

Delivering the keynote address, Idriss described the international observance as more than a symbolic event, noting that it serves as a global reminder of the urgent need to strengthen resilience against emerging threats.

“Today, as we gather in this prestigious citadel of learning, we join the global community to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

“This is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a global clarion call for resilience. Around the world, communities are facing an unprecedented escalation of risks — from climate-induced catastrophes to systemic economic shocks,” he said.

The RIMSON president stressed that effective disaster management requires a shift from responding to emergencies after they happen to identifying and mitigating risks before they escalate into disasters.

“Our task, therefore, is to move from a culture of reaction to a culture of anticipation,” Idriss declared.

He noted that the society’s mission aligns with global efforts to promote resilience through improved risk awareness, professional expertise and sustainable development practices.

“We exist to promote the consciousness of risk management in all sectors of our national life. We believe that development is only sustainable if it is risk-informed.

“By collaborating with institutions like the Centre for Disaster Risk Management here at UniPort, we are bridging the gap between academic research and professional practice, ensuring that Nigeria is better prepared for the uncertainties of tomorrow,” he stated.

Addressing the newly inducted Fellows and Associate Members, Idriss described their induction as a call to greater responsibility in advancing risk management practices across Nigeria.

He said the induction went beyond the addition of names to the society’s register, describing the new members as a new generation of professionals expected to champion risk awareness, preparedness and resilience.

“Becoming a Fellow or an Associate of RIMSON is not a destination; it is a higher calling to service,” he said.

He charged the inductees to uphold four core values: integrity, professionalism, visionary leadership and empathy, stressing the importance of ethical conduct and responsible leadership in the discharge of their professional duties.

Idriss also commended the University of Port Harcourt for its continued contributions to knowledge and research in disaster risk management.

Welcoming the new members into what he described as the “inner chamber of excellence,” he urged them to translate their professional recognition into practical efforts to protect lives, safeguard livelihoods and strengthen national resilience.

“Let us go forth from here, not just as certificate holders, but as architects of a safer, more resilient Nigeria,” he concluded.

The event attracted the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, members of RIMSON’s Governing Board, faculty and staff of the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, as well as members of the press.

RIMSON is a professional body dedicated to promoting risk awareness, professional standards and sustainable, risk-informed development across Nigeria’s economic sectors.

The society advocates the integration of risk management into decision-making processes to improve preparedness, reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience against potential threats.

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