At the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, joined global leaders at a side event on “Global Partnerships, Local Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Blueprint for Sustainable Growth.”
While such gatherings may appear routine, the implications for Nigeria’s humanitarian space are profound. Today’s emergencies — from floods to displacement and food insecurity — demand solutions that no single nation or institution can tackle alone. For Nigeria, where disasters are recurring and increasingly complex, building strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships is no longer a choice, but a necessity.
Mrs. Umar’s message in New York was clear: NEMA seeks more than handouts. The Agency’s focus is shifting toward partnerships that empower communities, build sustainability, and strengthen resilience. This is a critical pivot in how we view humanitarian action. Relief is vital in the immediate aftermath of a crisis, but it cannot be the end goal. True humanitarianism must give people tools to recover, adapt, and thrive beyond the crisis.
The benefits of such an approach are evident. First, international collaboration can enhance NEMA’s capacity in areas like early warning, data-driven response, and deployment of modern technology in disaster management. This means more lives saved before disasters escalate.
Second, partnerships that emphasize skills training, livelihood support, and sustainable rebuilding reduce dependency on repeated aid. Communities are able to stand back on their feet with dignity, not just wait for the next round of donations.
Third, by engaging at UNGA, Nigeria signals to the global community that it is not merely a recipient of aid but an active partner in finding shared solutions. This improves our credibility and attracts more strategic, targeted support that aligns with our national priorities.
Aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NEMA’s engagements abroad reflect a shift from reactive to proactive humanitarianism. The goal is not just to respond to disasters when they happen, but to build systems and partnerships that limit their impact, empower survivors, and secure long-term recovery.
For too long, humanitarian assistance in Nigeria has been seen through the narrow lens of emergency relief. What Mrs. Umar’s engagement at UNGA underscores is that aid must evolve into collaboration, and relief must transition into resilience. The Nigerian people deserve not only to be saved in times of crisis, but also to be equipped to withstand future shocks.
This is the new face of NEMA’s humanitarian diplomacy — building partnerships that respect dignity, promote self-reliance, and strengthen the resilience of our communities.
By Abdulkadir Ibrahim Chief Information Officer, NEMA
