Speaking at the opening of a two-day training workshop themed “Emergency Preparedness & Response Stakeholders Engagement Workshop” in Maiduguri on Monday, NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the initiative aims to enhance coordination, data management, and early warning systems at the sub-national level.
The training, organized in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Borno State Government, is designed to equip emergency stakeholders with critical skills for timely and efficient disaster response.
Represented by the Director of Planning and Research Forecasting, Bamidele Onimode, Umar emphasized the importance of strategic planning and stakeholder collaboration in mitigating risks and strengthening resilience.
“As we begin this two-day engagement, let us reflect on how far we have come, and more importantly, how much more we can achieve together,” she said. “Let us continue to move from reaction to preparedness, from coordination to resilience, and from intention to sustainability.”
Also speaking, Oluwaseun Olowoporoku, representing the World Bank Country Director, reaffirmed the Bank’s support to Borno State through technical assistance, operational backing, and knowledge exchange. He stressed that investing in preparedness saves significant costs in response and recovery, while protecting lives and livelihoods.
In his words, “This is a moment for innovation, collaboration, and concrete action. We must build an Emergency Preparedness and Response system that is smart, inclusive, and effective for the people of Borno State.”
The Executive Secretary of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA), Ali Abdullahi Isa, commended NEMA’s leadership and assured that the state government would continue to strengthen its partnership with NEMA and other relevant agencies to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
