President Bola Tinubu officially confirmed Zubaida Umar’s appointment as the first female Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday, as announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Zubaida Umar, a member of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Credit Administration, previously served as the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank.
During her tenure at the Federal Mortgage Bank, Umar played a crucial role in leading the strategic transformation and modernization of the bank into a digitally driven mortgage and financial services provider. President Tinubu expressed confidence in Umar’s ability to introduce much-needed financial and operational discipline within NEMA, aiming to revamp it into a proactive emergency response organization focused on disaster prevention and climate change readiness.
Zubaida Umar, originally from Birnin Kebbi State, is an accomplished alumna of esteemed institutions such as the Robert Gordon University Business School in Scotland and Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. With over two decades of experience in the corporate sector, she has made significant contributions to the financial landscape of Nigeria.
Umar’s professional journey includes serving as the General Manager of Zonal Coordination at the Federal Mortgage Bank, where she led various reform initiatives, particularly in ICT implementation, policy formulation, and risk management. Prior to her role at FMBN, she worked at the Debt Management Office (DMO) from 2001 to 2006, contributing to Nigeria’s financial stability through monitoring and managing domestic and foreign debts.
Umar’s commitment to professional development is evident through her participation in leadership and management programs at institutions such as the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. She has also undertaken specialized courses in communication, project management, and affordable housing programs globally.
