NiMet Inaugurates AI Research Team to Boost Innovation in Weather Forecasting
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Integration Team as part of its strategic efforts to deepen innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance service delivery in meteorological and climate services across the country.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, performed the inauguration, describing the initiative as a critical step towards modernising weather forecasting in Nigeria and aligning the Agency with global best practices.
He said the move underscores NiMet’s commitment to complementing decades of physics-based forecasting methods with emerging AI-driven approaches, in line with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
According to NiMet, the newly constituted technical team will be responsible for identifying opportunities, standards and best practices for the application of artificial intelligence in meteorology.
The team will also spearhead the integration of AI-based tools into NiMet’s operational forecasting systems, with the aim of improving the speed, accuracy and accessibility of weather and climate predictions through a hybrid approach that combines AI and traditional forecasting models.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Prof. Anosike stressed that building internal AI capacity is essential for sustaining NiMet’s leadership in technological innovation among government agencies.
He noted that the responsible deployment of emerging technologies would strengthen the Agency’s ability to support key national sectors, including aviation safety, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and overall national development.
“The integration of artificial intelligence into our operations will enable NiMet to respond more effectively to the growing demand for timely, accurate and user-friendly weather information,” he said, adding that the initiative would position the Agency to better address the challenges posed by climate variability and extreme weather events.
Members of the AI Research and Integration Team were drawn from various units within the Agency, reflecting a deliberate multidisciplinary approach to innovation and problem-solving.
NiMet noted that this collaborative structure is designed to ensure that AI solutions are practical, ethical and tailored to Nigeria’s unique meteorological and climate needs.
The inauguration of the AI Research and Integration Team marks another milestone in NiMet’s ongoing efforts to leverage digital technologies and research-driven solutions in delivering world-class meteorological services to Nigerians.
