By Kingsley Agim
Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has sponsored two state officials to participate in an international training programme on Developing Institutional and Community Resilience in Israel.
The selected delegates, Prof. Emmanuel Eyo, State Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), and Princess Ako Nsa Ekpenyong, Director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), attended the specialized course held from February 9 to 21, 2025.
The training was organized by the State of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, in collaboration with the Golda Meir MASHAV Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) and the International Resilience Institute of Sderot.
The programme aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of community resilience, which focuses on strengthening daily well-being to minimize the impact of crises. Unlike traditional crisis preparedness, community resilience emphasizes proactive strategies to mitigate the consequences of traumatic events through institutional cooperation and local engagement.
The training, according the the manual made available, highlighted the importance of multi-level collaboration—from national and municipal institutions to grassroots organizations—in developing effective resilience systems.
The also addressed strategies for supporting specific vulnerable populations, such as children, youth, and the elderly, while equipping local first responders with trauma management skills.
Participants were exposed to Israeli models and best practices in crisis management and community resilience-building, with a focus on: Analyzing community challenges during crises; Developing crisis prevention and intervention strategies; Strengthening institutional and community cooperation for resilience; Psychosocial approaches to trauma response and recovery; Psychological First Aid (PFA) for first-stage trauma responders; Strategic planning for community preparedness; and Methods for managing prolonged crises and fostering social resilience.
The delegates, upon their arrival in the state, Prof. Emmanuel Eyo and Princess Ako Nsa Ekpenyong, expressed their gratitude to Governor Otu for the opportunity to enhance their capacities in such a critical area. They acknowledged that the training provided them with invaluable insights and practical strategies that would significantly improve disaster preparedness, emergency response, and resilience-building efforts in Cross River State.
The duo maintained that Governor Otu’s sponsorship of the training aligns with his administration’s commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness, emergency response, and institutional resilience in Cross River State. They acknowledged that the gained would strengthen crisis management frameworks and improve community-based resilience initiatives across the state.
