About Me
I am Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024. My journey to this point has been shaped by over two decades of service in public administration, finance, and organizational reform, a path defined by hard work, integrity, and a deep commitment to building strong, people-centered institutions.
Before my appointment to NEMA, I spent much of my professional life at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), where I rose through the ranks to become one of its senior leaders. I began as a young administrator with a passion for systems improvement and eventually became General Manager, overseeing key operational departments. Over the years, I held several pivotal roles, as Group Head of Corporate Communications, where I championed the Bank’s rebranding and stakeholder engagement; as Zonal Manager, where I led branch operations across multiple states; and later as Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services, a position to which I was appointed by late President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022.
In that role, I was entrusted with overseeing the Bank’s Finance and Control, Human Resource Management, Information and Communications Technology, and Support Services directorates. My focus was on driving modernization, leading the Bank’s digital transformation through the deployment of its core banking application, revamping HR policies, and improving staff data management and operational efficiency. These reforms laid a foundation for greater accountability, service excellence, and institutional transparency.
My academic foundation blends business and international exposure. I earned a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later obtained an M.Sc. in International Trade from Robert Gordon University Business School, Scotland. I also hold professional affiliations with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Credit Administration, along with certifications in Public Financial Management, Sustainability Finance, and Digital Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
When I assumed office as DG of NEMA, I brought that same belief in structure, foresight, and people to emergency management. My leadership is focused on transforming NEMA from a reactive relief agency into a proactive, risk-informed national institution. We are strengthening early warning systems, improving data-driven disaster planning, and investing in community resilience through partnerships that move beyond temporary aid to long-term empowerment.
I often say that leadership is not about the position you hold, but the difference you make. From the banking halls of FMBN to the command rooms of NEMA, my mission has remained constant: to build institutions that serve with compassion, efficiency, and credibility; institutions that Nigerians can trust.
“She broke the glass ceiling at NEMA, becoming the first woman to lead Nigeria’s emergency management, and in doing so is steering the nation toward resilience, readiness and inclusive leadership.”
My Mission
To transform emergency management in Nigeria through foresight, technology, and human empathy, strengthening national systems, empowering communities, and deepening international cooperation in the face of a changing climate and an unpredictable world.
Our mission is to safeguard lives and livelihoods by turning knowledge into readiness, coordination into action, and compassion into sustainable recovery.
My Vision
To build a nation where resilience is a shared culture, where every community, every institution, and every citizen is equipped to anticipate, withstand, and recover from adversity with dignity and strength.
I envision a Nigeria that leads Africa in risk-informed governance and humanitarian innovation, where emergency management is not a reaction to crisis but a reflection of national preparedness, compassion, and global responsibility.