By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has been conferred with the Excellence in Emergency Response and Humanitarian Services Award at the National Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS), a prestigious national recognition celebrating outstanding contributions to public service delivery.
The award was presented on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia. Mrs Umar stood out among a distinguished class of honourees, which included the Governors of Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano and Adamawa States, as well as the Ministers of Aviation and Women Affairs, among others.
Delivering the President’s message at the ceremony, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, congratulated all recipients and urged them to maintain the standards of professionalism and impact that earned them the national accolades.
Founder of the annual NEAPS Award, Hajiya Mariam C. Mohammed, noted that all awardees were rigorously selected following a meticulous evaluation of their excellence, leadership, and commitment to quality public service.
Organised by The Best Strategic Media (TBS) in partnership with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the ceremony took place on Sunday, 7th December 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In her reaction, Mrs Zubaida Umar expressed deep appreciation to the President and the organisers, describing the honour as a significant motivation to continue advancing national emergency preparedness, humanitarian services, and public safety.
The recognition highlights her exceptional performance and transformative leadership in repositioning disaster management under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Through her stewardship, NEMA has strengthened early warning systems, enhanced preparedness and response mechanisms, deepened stakeholder collaboration, and boosted national resilience to emergencies.
