The Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), has officially flagged off the Emergency Health Education Curriculum Conference, marking a significant milestone in advancing health security and emergency preparedness across Nigeria’s education sector.
The event convened key stakeholders from the health, education, policy, and emergency response sectors to deliberate on the integration of Emergency Health Education into Nigeria’s academic curriculum for primary and secondary schools.
The conference, which commenced on February 9, 2026, underscores a collective commitment to strengthening national preparedness, enhancing response capacity, and equipping young Nigerians with life-saving knowledge and skills.
Speaking at the conference, Salisu Shehu, executive secretary, NERDC, emphasised the urgent need to institutionalise Emergency Health Education as a proactive strategy for building resilient communities. He noted that embedding emergency health knowledge within the national curriculum would foster a culture of preparedness from an early age.
In his address, Emmanuel Madison, chairman, HEI Board of Trustees, described the collaboration with NERDC as a landmark achievement in aligning emergency health awareness with national educational standards. He reaffirmed HEI’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child acquires essential life-saving competencies.
The conference featured expert-led presentations by over 20 scholars, medical consultants, practitioners, and certified trainers, alongside policy dialogues and strategic planning sessions. Led by the NERDC curriculum development team, discussions focused on curriculum design, implementation frameworks, sustainability strategies, and cross-sector partnerships.
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Also speaking, Chima Jonas Egbujuo, head Curriculum Development Centre NERDC, underscored that prehospital skills are critical for emergency preparedness among young people, adding the agency worked assiduously towards the realisationof this objective by bringing together scholars, experts, technocrats and practitioners towards a robust and pragmatic curriculum integration at primary and secondary schools. This required enormous sacrifice, including working for extended hours to meet the timeline. He emphasised that “Emergency health Education curriculum is not going to be a standalone subject but will be infused into relevant carrier subjects”.
Paschal Achunine, HEI’s executive director, expressed appreciated partners and stakeholders for their dedication to achieving this milestone. He noted that, upon conclusion of the conference and subsequent approvals in the coming weeks and months, Emergency Health Education would be integrated into relevant core subjects in both public and private primary and secondary schools nationwide. In addition, a standalone curriculum module will be developed to further strengthen the initiative.
Achunine further highlighted that the recent acquisition and deployment of the Health Emergency Rapid Aid (HERA) initiative will complement the nationwide rollout, enhancing rapid response capabilities and reinforcing practical learning.
Representatives from Ashoka Africa, LASHMA, Police, FRSC, LASAEC, and LASTMA also commended the initiative, describing it as both timely and essential to addressing Nigeria’s growing need for structured emergency response education.
NERDC reaffirmed its commitment to developing inclusive, responsive curricula that address national priorities, including health security and emergency management.
The conference concluded with a renewed pledge from stakeholders to accelerate policy adoption, deepen inter-sector collaboration, and ensure the nationwide implementation of the Emergency Health Education curriculum. Participants also expressed strong support for the passage of the Good Samaritan Law to protect and encourage citizens who provide emergency assistance.
