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The 2nd Murtala Muhammed Conference with the
theme “GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON DISASTER
MANAGEMENT” held at the Musa Shehu Yar'
adua Centre Abuja from the 16th -18th May with
the sole focus being to explore in-depth with
international experts the adequacy of National
Disaster Management Regime with the intention
of developing a holistic approach to new
disaster management. Experts from all parts of
the world were in attendance to assist
stakeholders to achieve these objectives. The
general consensus was a Bottom-up approach.
Pertinent questions and issues were
deliberated upon and analyzed from a global
perspective during the 3 day conference,
although a non fee paying session for
survivors of disasters was held on the morning
of the 16th of May. The session created a
forum for survivors to share the plethora of
challenges they are facing which have hitherto
not been given adequate attention and concern.
This session was driven by the need to gauge
this level of challenge and opportunity; the
conference outcome will be applied as a
yardstick for the development of our nation's
future trauma management.
During the main conference, stakeholders
highlighted crosscutting questions on general
disaster management issues and other
contemporary issues such as; safety and
regulations, business contemporary planning in
systemic crisis, information management,
national and local response systems, trauma
management and aid and relief issues. The
Panelists also suggested best practice
approach on document recovery,
telecommunication infrastructure restoration
and buildings' safety requirements and
regulations.
The
stakeholders that attended the conference were
from Airline / Road / Building / Marine
Regulatory bodies, local and International
Airlines, Federal and State Ministries and
Parastatals, International organizations,
Federal Fire services, National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA), Police and Military
Authorities, Petroleum Exploration companies,
Hospitals and Ambulance services, Relief
organizations, Paramilitary Organizations and
NGOs.
The fallout of the conference was the
communiqué
a series of recommendations for implementation
by different stakeholders. We hope the action
plan that was developed from the conference
will serve as a template to enhance the nation
disaster management framework.
The Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), as it is today, was launched on
the 13th of February, 2002,
a day that coincided with the 26th anniversary
of the national hero's assassination. Prior to
the inauguration of the Foundation, the only
event through which the General's memory was
kept alive was the Murtala Muhammed Memorial
lectures begun in 1991 by
the Daily times newspapers.
Today, the MMF is a non-profit organization dedicated to
improving the quality of life of Africans. The
focus of the Foundation is to engender
self-reliance through contributing to the
reduction of poverty, encourage agriculture
related business development, and working
tirelessly on policy and advocacy for issues
that impact on ethics, equity and economic
empowerment.
The Murtala Muhammed Memorial lectures, have
also over time become fora for deliberation
on pertinent developmental issues of our times
and have had past present heads of states
and distinguished statesmen as speakers.
The 8th memorial lecture was delivered by
his Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire,
the former president of the Republic of Botswana.
This year, the 9th Annual Murtala Muhammed
Memorial Lecture shall be delivered by Mrs. Graca Machel.
To allow wide participation and evocative
dialogue, an annual conference has evolved
from the Annual Lectures. The theme for the
1st Annual Murtala Muhammed Memorial Conference
is: Breaking the Barriers of Limitation -The
Role of Women in Development. It promises
to be quite provoking.
Challenges
of governance and leadership in Nigerian mainstream
governing structure, corporate circles, grassroots
and human development endeavors shall form
the key issues of deliberation in the next
Murtala Muhammed memorial lecture and conference.
The event is scheduled from the 13th
to the 14th February 2006. The
Keynote is expected to be general Colin Powell,
former secretary of state, United States of
America including other distinguished Nigerian
statesmen and who have demonstrated exemplary
leadership qualities.
The
conference usually promotes evocative and
constructive dialogue among diverse opinion
leaders and the public. The Murtala Muhammed
Foundation, in realization of its role as
an advocate for social change and promoter
of socio-economic empowerment of Africans,
places large emphasis towards making the events
a memorable one. Outcomes of the events are
usually applied as a vehicle for policy change
in the scheme of development in Nigeria.
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