By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, on February 11, 2026, visited the headquarters of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja, where she sought the Commission’s partnership to support the effective operation of schools established under the Rehabilitation Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) across seven beneficiary states, explaining that the collaboration is needed to provide teachers, instructional materials, and other critical support services to fully operationalize the facilities.
During the courtesy visit, Umar stated that the RSPIC initiative was conceived as a comprehensive intervention to address the needs of communities affected by conflict. She noted that beyond physical reconstruction, the scheme prioritises essential social services such as education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods.
According to her, schools were intentionally integrated into the rehabilitation sites to ensure that children and young people in resettled communities have uninterrupted access to quality basic education. While the necessary infrastructure has been completed, she stressed that strategic collaboration with UBEC is crucial to make the schools fully functional.
Umar emphasised that education is central to sustainable recovery and long-term stability in post-conflict environments. She added that equipping children with relevant knowledge and skills would play a significant role in rebuilding resilient and self-reliant communities.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, assured NEMA of the Commission’s willingness to collaborate in line with its mandate to promote and coordinate basic education nationwide. She commended NEMA’s foresight in incorporating educational infrastructure into the rehabilitation framework and pledged to work out practical modalities to ensure an effective partnership.
