By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has reiterated the Agency’s unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that empower displaced persons and vulnerable youth through skills acquisition and sustainable livelihood programmes.
She made this known on Saturday at the graduation ceremony of 200 beneficiaries of a vocational skills training programme organised by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), Abuja. The programme targeted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable youths drawn from communities affected by insecurity and socio-economic challenges across the country.
In a statement signed by NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, the event underscored the Agency’s continued collaboration with relevant partners in building resilience and promoting social inclusion among vulnerable groups.
In her goodwill message, Mrs. Zubaida Umar lauded the MBNCWD for its visionary role in championing women and youth empowerment through vocational training and enterprise development. She noted that effective emergency management must transcend immediate disaster response to encompass recovery, empowerment, and sustainable development.
According to her, “Emergency management goes beyond responding to disasters; it is also about building resilience, restoring hope, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for those affected by crises especially our vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and displaced persons.”
She charged the graduating trainees to apply their newly acquired skills productively in ways that uplift their communities and contribute meaningfully to national growth. The NEMA boss further stated that the Agency remains steadfast in supporting empowerment programmes that address the root causes of vulnerability and enhance long-term recovery for those affected by crises.
As part of its support for the initiative, NEMA provided livelihood support materials to the beneficiaries and the Centre to sustain the gains of the training exercise. Mrs. Umar affirmed that the Agency will continue to partner with development institutions, humanitarian organisations, and government agencies to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability across Nigeria.
“Empowering IDPs and vulnerable persons is at the heart of our mission to build a safer and more resilient Nigeria. By equipping them with the skills to become self-reliant, we are fostering recovery and ensuring that no one is left behind in the nation’s development process,” she stated.
In her remarks, the Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Vilita Asabe Bashir, commended NEMA for its consistent collaboration and support, describing it as a true demonstration of commitment to humanitarian service and national development. She explained that the programme was designed to economically empower IDPs and other vulnerable persons, helping them rebuild their lives and reduce their exposure to social and economic risks.
The event featured testimonies from participants and stakeholders who expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and its partners for their sustained investment in human capacity development. Many of the graduates pledged to use their newly acquired skills to establish small-scale enterprises and support others within their communities.
The ceremony, held in Abuja, highlighted the importance of synergy between humanitarian and development agencies in addressing the complex challenges of displacement and vulnerability while advancing national recovery and inclusive growth.
