Sadiya Umar Farouq Life Changing Interventions

PROLOGUE Sadiya Umar Farouq: A Quintessential Public Servant Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, qualifies to be called a Super Minister. The minister is immensely trusted by President Muhammadu Buhari, with her advice and opinion highly regarded. She has worked closely with the President for over 10 years. As a reliable, trusted ally and goal-getter, the President did not think twice in entrusting her with the newly created mega-ministry. The President has now tasked her with the responsibility of providing solutions to the plight of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, as well as coordinate humanitarian affairs and social development in the country.


The elegant and bespectacled Minister was to register in the consciousness of millions of the citizens as a result of her hard work, and resilience, especially in her handling of humanitarian matters, at home and internationally as soon as she resumed duty as the Honourable Minister.

Sadiya Umar - Farouq, the first and substantive Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in Nigeria, until her appointment as Minister in August 2019 was Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). She was appointed the Honourable Federal Commissioner (HFC) of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in September 2016.

On assumption of duty as the Honourable Federal Commissioner, Sadiya Umar - Farouq promptly acquainted herself with the task at hand and immediately drew up a new Strategic Roadmap of action to reposition the Commission to take the leading role as Nigeria’s premier humanitarian intervention organization and also bring the Commission’s activities to the desired world standards. The new Strategic Roadmap of the Commission focused on the total provision of durable solutions to Persons of Concern, while emphasizing the establishment of standardized procedures for utilizing Research, Data Gathering and Planning for Resettling, Rehabilitating, Reintegrating and Readmitting all Persons of Concern.

During her tenure as Honourable Federal Commissioner, the Commission went through extensive systems strengthening, including legal and institutional framework, re-branding and capacity building of its staff. She engaged local and international stakeholders and adopted a holistic approach to building and maintaining enduring partnerships from the bottom up.

Under Sadiya Umar – Farouq’s leadership, the Commission carried out several intervention programmes, such as the provision of care, maintenance and empowerment support to Persons of Concern in Nigeria, which includes, IDPs, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Stateless persons. She also personally took these items to States and the Federal Capital Territory, with a significant number of the recipients of these interventions being women and children.

Sadiya Umar - Farouq was sworn in as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) on August 21st, 2019, at the age of 44, making her the youngest member of the Federal Executive Council. Her appointment was a clear demonstration of the confidence reposed in her to deliver on the mandate by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari. The exemplary leadership, experience, commitment to duty, patriotism, as well as organizational, interpersonal skills and teamwork she brought to bear in previous assignments was not in doubt and stood her out as the perfect choice for the job.

As Honourable Minister, she provides leadership in the development of humanitarian policies and the effective coordination of National and International humanitarian interventions; formulates and deploys policies to ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response; and manages the formulation and implementation of fair focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria, in line with the Ministry’s assigned mandate. The mandate of the Ministry covers a wide range of issues that deal directly with the social and economic well-being of the people of Nigeria. This earned it the name ‘Nigeria’s super or mega Ministry’ in some quarters at inception. Mrs. Umar - Farouq has variously been described as a round peg in a round hole in view of her proven competence, past antecedents and present milestone achievements. As a peak performer who regularly delivers results with dignity and consistency, she has remained focused on finding sustainable and innovative solutions to humanitarian, disaster and social development challenges that affect people and communities in Nigeria.

True to type, she hit the ground running when barely 24 hours following her appointment on the 22nd of August 2019, she led a technical working group to Cameroun on a mission to bring home stranded Nigerian Refugees. Sadiya Umar - Farouq has since her appointment initiated and engaged in the development of myriad programmes and activities that will provide a solid foundation for the Ministry and also put in place viable and sustainable structures to drive the seamless and efficient delivery of the Ministry’s mandate, leaving no one in doubt that she is competent and passionate about improving the lives of poor and vulnerable Nigerians across the nooks and crannies of the country.

Contribution to Gender Development and Empowerment: Sadiya Umar - Farouq has been active in advocating for Women Empowerment, Gender Equity and Women Inclusion in so many ways, some of which are; She has ensured fair inclusion of women in all the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, with women making up 99% of the 120,000 benefitting cooks for the NHGSFP, 94% of the almost 2 million beneficiaries for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), 54.3% of GEEP beneficiaries, and more than 25% of N - Power beneficiaries. The GEEP 2.0 has been redesigned and now has only female petty traders and heads of families as beneficiaries of the MarketMoni loan product.

Through these interventions, many Nigerian Women have been able to start and boost businesses, and have effectively been lifted out of poverty as a result; Sadiya Umar - Farouq implemented the Cash Grant for Rural Women across all 36 States including FCT. The programme has proven to be beneficial as many of the women have put the grant they received to good use, and currently have a sustainable means of livelihood; Sadiya Umar - Farouq, has engaged in various collaborations that border on women development and empowerment with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Women in Parliament, Federal Agencies, NGOs & INGO’s and a number of the UN Agencies. In 2017, Mrs. Sadiya Umar - Farouq flagged of the “Clean and Healthy Project” for Internally Displaced Women and Infants.

Under the leadership of the Minister of FMHADMSD, NAPTIP has recorded enormous successes, which include the rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked women, community dialogues and engagements on the ills of trafficking. She has remained resolute and continues working to ensure the prosecution of perpetrators of abuse and other offenders.

The Minister has since coming into office bagged a number of Awards, with the most recent being an award by an International organization, Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU) for her role in Poverty Alleviation and promotion of Gender Sensitivity. She was also conferred with, “Most Trusted Woman in Public Office Award” by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC). These Awards and recognitions are all in recognition and appreciation of her unwavering commitment to empowering vulnerable Nigerians, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of lifting 100 million people out of poverty by the year 2030. In November 2020, she commissioned a 208 Bed Transit Home for victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse in Ekiti State. The Transit Home was established to provide life-long skills for abused women and girls.

In March 2020, the Honourable Minister was nominated by United Nations Women as a trailblazer for young women to mentor aspiring young female leaders on account of her penchant for empowering, mentoring and creating opportunities for young women. In her capacity as the Honourable Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI and as the Honourable Minister, FMHADMSD, Sadiya Umar - Farouq has been decidedly deliberate in engaging women on her team to provide mentorship and also give them opportunities to build successful careers. Similarly, four of the Agencies under the supervision of the Ministry have female Chief Executives; Mrs. Sadiya Umar - Farouq continues to encourage women at all levels to develop themselves to their fullest potentials in order to excel.

Early Life and Education: Umar - Farouq was born on the 5th day of November, 1974, in Zurmi, Zamfara State. She attended Township Primary School Gusau for her Primary Education and Federal Government Girls College Gusau for her Secondary School Education. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and two Masters Degrees from the same institution in Business Administration and International Affairs and Diplomacy, respectively.

Career: Sadiya Umar - Farouq commenced her career as an Administrative Officer at the National Assembly Commission. She has multi - disciplinary qualifications and working experience in Administration, Finance, Humanitarian Affairs, Training and Manpower Development and Politics.

Her political journey started with her membership of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), where she held the post of National Treasurer, and she effectively and efficiently managed the campaign funds for the party. Following the merger of the CPC, ANPP and CAN, which metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was appointed the interim National Treasurer of APC, and in that position, she did not only demonstrate prudent financial management, she also promoted financial transparency and accountability. Sadiya Umar - Farouq also played a critical role in the 2015 Presidential Campaign in her membership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which eventually took over from the then incumbent government.

As a true representation of the amazing inner strength, resilience and nurturing spirit of Women, Sadiya Umar - Farouq has against all odds remained focused and has risen to enviable heights in her career. She remains a true and worthy role model for millions of women in Nigeria and across the globe.