The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen collaboration with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to enhance disaster risk management, research, capacity building and institutional resilience in the country.
Director-General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, gave the assurance on Monday, while receiving a delegation from ABU at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Umar assured the delegation of NEMA’s readiness to scale up the existing partnership, noting that collaborations with academic institutions remain critical to evidence-based disaster management and building national resilience.
According to her, NEMA has continued to reposition disaster management in the country by prioritising disaster risk reduction, early warning dissemination, public awareness, and preparedness over mere emergency response.
”Disaster management begins at the community level. This underscores the importance of collaboration with tertiary institutions to promote disaster risk education, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and institutional capacity development.”
She further explained that the agency has sustained nationwide sensitisation campaigns and strengthened ties with State Emergency Management Agencies and Local Emergency Management Committees to boost community-based risk management.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, who led the delegation, explained that the visit was to discuss ways of strengthening ties between the university and NEMA.
Ahmed commended NEMA’s boss for her exemplary leadership and remarkable progress in disaster management and humanitarian coordination.
He described Umar as a “distinguished alumna” of ABU, whose professionalism, integrity, and dedication to public service has continued to bring pride to the institution.
He expressed gratitude for NEMA’s longstanding support for the ABU Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, which has trained numerous professionals currently serving across the country.
The vice-chancellor noted that the university seeks to deepen the partnership to address the growing complexity of disasters, driven by climate change, rapid urbanisation, and emerging risks.
He also appealed for NEMA’s support in strengthening internal emergency preparedness at the university, particularly in mitigating hazards related to aging infrastructure, erosion, and fire incidents.
