Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Student Safety: A Systematic Review of Emergency Planning, Community Engagement, Disability-Inclusive Preparedness, and Resilience-Building Strategies and Their Effects on Student Vulnerability and Safety Outcomes at the University of Lagos

Student safety in Nigerian federal universities represents a multidimensional challenge encompassing physi- cal protection, psychological security, emergency responsiveness, and institutional resilience. The University of Lagos, due to its coastal exposure, high population density, and proximity to industrial and urban hazards, presents a particularly complex disaster risk environment. Despite this, campus disaster preparedness and inclusive emergency planning remain limited, especially for vulnerable student populations such as persons with disabilities and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This study systematically reviews existing literature on inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies in higher education, with a focus on their applicability to the University of Lagos context. A protocol-driv- en systematic review was conducted using multiple academic databases and grey literature sources. Studies were screened using predefined inclusion criteria, with quality appraisal conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The synthesis integrates evidence across four theoretical perspectives: the Pressure and Release Model, Social Vulnerability and Community Resilience theory, political ecology of disaster, and inclusive disaster risk reduction frameworks. Findings indicate that inclusive DRR strategies—such as participatory emergency planning, disability-inclusive preparedness systems, community-based risk communication, and multi-channel early warning systems—consistently improve evacuation efficiency, preparedness awareness, and institutional resilience outcomes. However, implementation gaps persist in Nigerian universities due to weak governance structures, limited funding, and inadequate integration of inclusive design principles. The study concludes that strengthening inclusive disaster risk governance at the University of Lagos requires institutionalising accessibility-focused emergency systems, enhancing community engagement in preparedness, and embedding DRR into university policy frameworks.