By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to forging strategic global partnerships that drive empowerment, resilience, and sustainability in humanitarian response, declaring that emergency management must go beyond donations to building long-term community strength.
Mrs. Umar made this known while speaking at a high-level side event on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The panel, themed “Global Partnerships, Local Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Blueprint for Sustainable Growth,” brought together top government officials and prospective international partners.
In a statement signed by NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, the Director General emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places partnerships at the heart of Nigeria’s development and humanitarian strategies. “At NEMA, where our mandate is centred on humanitarian needs and emergency management, we are pursuing strategic partnerships that go beyond donations or handouts,” she said. “Our goal is to foster collaborations that guarantee empowerment, sustainability, and resilience, ensuring that communities are not only supported in times of crisis but are also better equipped to withstand future shocks.”
Mrs. Umar noted that Nigeria is shifting from a reactive to a proactive disaster management posture, stressing that effective response begins at the grassroots. “Disasters are local and must first be managed locally before escalating to the federal level,” she explained. She therefore urged state governments to strengthen their State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) as the first line of response to emergencies.
She cited Kaduna State as a model of proactive planning, highlighting its steps over the past four months to identify higher grounds, set up camps, and prepare adequately ahead of the flood season. According to her, such preparedness demonstrates how effective collaboration between local and federal institutions can save lives and reduce vulnerability.
The NEMA boss assured stakeholders that the agency remains committed to working closely with partners at national and international levels to build a more resilient Nigeria. “The strength of our response lies not just in federal capacity but in our ability to work together across all levels, ensuring that our people are protected, empowered, and prepared,” she affirmed.
The side event, attended by Nigerian officials, development partners, and global actors, was described as a strategic platform for deepening cooperation around Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Blueprint while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth and stronger disaster resilience.
