In a concerted effort to enhance the country’s disaster response capabilities, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has initiated a comprehensive training program for its staff and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). The aim is to equip them with the necessary skills in disaster management, ensuring efficient service delivery to safeguard lives and property. This initiative aligns with NEMA’s commitment, led by Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed, to streamline the Agency’s functions for effective disaster management coordination nationwide.
Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed, addressing the launch of the training program in Abuja, underscored its purpose, which includes reinforcing the expertise of NEMA and SEMA personnel in various critical aspects of disaster management. These encompass Humanitarian Coordination Mechanism, Disaster Management Cycle and Institutional Capacity, Resource Mobilization, Information Management, Community-Based Disaster Management, Search and Rescue, Incident Command System, Disaster Preparedness, Risk Management, and Early Warning Systems, among others. He emphasized that personnel training is a pivotal element in ensuring the efficacy and efficiency of disaster management operations. NEMA remains committed to exploring opportunities for continual capacity development for its staff and stakeholders, with the goal of institutionalizing sound disaster management principles and practices.
Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed also highlighted NEMA’s commitment to enhancing stakeholder capacity in disaster management through previous collaborations. In January 2023, NEMA facilitated training programs for SEMAs in partnership with the United States Fire Service, followed by another collaboration with Bournemouth University Disaster Management Center in February 2023. Plans are already underway for additional capacity development initiatives in the near future. Moreover, he stressed the importance of forging partnerships with development organizations, especially in capacity training. Notably, the training program was organized in conjunction with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), marking a significant step toward bolstering the capabilities of federal and state emergency management personnel.
Esty Sukoyo, Deputy Head of UN-OCHA Office in Nigeria, assured continued collaboration between OCHA and NEMA, in alignment with their respective mandates. She encouraged participants to leverage the training to enhance their skills and subsequently share their newfound knowledge with their respective agencies.
This training program for NEMA and SEMA staff is a collaborative effort involving UNOCHA and receives support from UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross, further emphasizing the collective commitment to bolstering disaster response capabilities in Nigeria.
