The Director General/ CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has stated that early warnings must not end with forecasts alone but they must inspire understanding and drive decisive action.
While delivering his keynote address at NiMet’s two-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum held in Lagos, he 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.
The forum, themed “Early Warnings: Raising Awareness on Climate Risks and Promoting Early Action”, brought together participants from government, private sector, academia, development partners, and civil society.
In his remarks, 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.
Highlighting NiMet’s achievements, he 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.
Anosike emphasised NiMet’s growing role in the marine and blue economy sector, where the Agency now provides daily marine forecasts in partnership with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (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. 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”.
Inna Binta Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Dev. 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 Rep 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 emphasised that “NiMet’s model of inclusive dialogue is a template for how meteorological agencies can translate science into solutions.”
Mr. Bernard Edward Gomez, Rep 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 featured 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.
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