The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on Saturday attended 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 initiative targeted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable youth from communities affected by insecurity and socio-economic challenges.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, in her goodwill message, reaffirmed the Agency’s unwavering commitment to supporting programmes that promote social inclusion and resilience among displaced and vulnerable populations.
She emphasised that effective emergency management must go beyond disaster response to include empowering citizens with the skills and resources needed to recover and rebuild their lives.
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.”
Mrs Zubaida Umar commended the Maryam Babangida Centre for championing skills acquisition as a powerful tool for empowerment and poverty reduction.
She urged the graduating trainees to use their newly acquired skills productively in ways that uplift their communities and contribute to national development.
As part of its support for the initiative, NEMA provided livelihood support items to assist the beneficiaries and the Centre in sustaining the gains of the training programme.
The NEMA Director General reiterated that the Agency will continue to collaborate with relevant institutions and development partners to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability nationwide.
She noted that empowering IDPs and vulnerable persons remains central to building a safer and more resilient Nigeria.
In her remarks, the Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr Vilita Asabe Bashir, appreciated the continued support and collaboration of NEMA, describing it as a demonstration of the Agency’s commitment to disaster management and humanitarian service.
She explained that the initiative was specifically designed to empower Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable persons from insecurity-affected areas to become economically self-reliant and less vulnerable to social risks.
The event also featured testimonies from participants and stakeholders who commended the Federal Government and partnering institutions for their commitment to reducing vulnerability through skills development and empowerment.
