The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, today participated in a high-level roundtable alongside key humanitarian management executives to discuss strategies for improving humanitarian service delivery in the country.
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, declared the event open, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to humanitarian services. He underscored the importance of actionable policies backed by predictable funding, noting that sustainable financing is essential for effective humanitarian response. The Minister also commended DG NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, for her dedication and exemplary leadership in navigating complex humanitarian challenges.
Speaking as a panelist, the DG NEMA Mrs. Zubaida Umar highlighted the need for stronger collaboration of state-level agencies, community leaders, and partners to ensure that interventions are informed by real-time, ground-level realities. She also advocated for a multi-sectoral, layered approach to humanitarian response, recognizing that humanitarian needs do not exist in isolation.
“A displaced community facing hunger also needs shelter, healthcare, and protection. Prioritizing one need while neglecting others can deepen vulnerabilities,” she noted.
Other notable attendees included the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, and the Head of UN-OCHA Nigeria. The event also brought together representatives of several Federal Government Agencies, State Commissioners, State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), members of academia and non-governmental organizations.
The roundtable served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on strengthening humanitarian coordination, policy implementation, and resource mobilization to ensure more effective and sustainable humanitarian interventions across the country.
25th December, 2025
