The Director General/ CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called for stronger partnerships to ensure that weather and climate information translates into proactive decisions that safeguard lives, protect investments, and build a climate-resilient Nigeria.
He made the call in his keynote address at NiMet’s two-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum held at the Admiralty Event and Conference Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The forum, themed “Early Warnings: Raising Awareness on Climate Risks and Promoting Early Action,” brought together participants from government, the private sector, academia, development partners, and civil society.
In his remarks, Prof. Anosike explained that the forum was designed to foster dialogue, collaborations and address gaps regarding the reach, comprehension, and application of NiMet’s products and services. “Early warnings must not end with forecasts alone; they must inspire understanding and drive decisive action,” he said.
Highlighting NiMet’s achievements, Prof. Anosike pointed to the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), a flagship product that helps farmers and other users plan around rainfall patterns, dry spells, and temperature forecasts. He explained that the SCP is translated into major Nigerian languages and widely disseminated to support climate-smart decisions.
He noted that to promote aviation safety, NiMet had embraced digital innovation, including the deployment of the Electronic Flight Folder (e-Flight Folder) to provide pilots with real-time weather updates. He also disclosed that major Nigerian airports have been certified under the Agency’s ISO quality management system, with more certifications underway.
Prof. Anosike also emphasized NiMet’s growing role in the marine and blue economy sector, where the Agency now provides daily marine forecasts in partnership with NIMASA and other institutions. “Just as we have built trust and reliability in aviation, we are working to replicate the same impact in Nigeria’s marine sector,” he stated.
Affirming the role of collaborations, Prof. Anosike said, “It is important to clearly state that we cannot do this alone. Whatever we have done or achieved, we have done so with the active collaborations, partnerships, and support from our stakeholders, cutting across government and non-governmental, local and international.”
Echoing this call, Inna Binta Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, in her goodwill message commended NiMet for “putting knowledge into action.” She stressed that in a country where climate extremes directly affect livelihoods, NiMet’s efforts to connect forecasts with decision-making stand out as lifesaving. She added that stakeholder engagement forums like this are not just conversations but bridges that link government policies, humanitarian response, and community resilience.
Similarly, Naoni Nabl, Director of Observation System, Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology, representing the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco with WMO, praised NiMet’s leadership in strengthening Africa’s voice in climate services. He noted that stakeholder engagement is the heartbeat of effective early warning systems and emphasized that “NiMet’s model of inclusive dialogue is a template for how meteorological agencies can translate science into solutions.”
Mr. Bernard Edward Gomez, Representative of WMO in North, Central and West Africa, representing the Secretary General of WMO, alluded to the authoritative voice of National Weather Services like NiMet and its relevance in multisectoral climate resilience for socioeconomic benefits.
The two-day forum features panel discussions, product exhibitions, and interactive sessions showcasing NiMet’s services and innovations. It underscores the Agency’s commitment to advancing early warning systems and promoting a climate-resilient Nigeria.
