AGRHYMET Delegation Visits NiMet, Moves to Fast-Track Operationalisation of RCC-WAS
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Wednesday hosted a Joint High-Level Mission led by the Director General of AGRHYMET, Dr Issoufou Baoua, as efforts to fully operationalise the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS) gathered momentum.
Dr Baoua arrived at NiMet headquarters in Abuja with a powerful delegation comprising the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Representative for West, Central and North Africa, Dr Bernard Gomez, and the ECOWAS Representative, Prof Mansur Matazu.
The visit formed part of a coordinated mission aimed at accelerating regional collaboration for the take-off of RCC-WAS – a flagship initiative intended to enhance climate services and improve resilience across the sub-region.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr Baoua outlined the core objectives of the mission, noting that the operationalisation of RCC-WAS requires strengthened institutional partnerships, alignment of regional priorities, identification of capacity-building needs, and clear, actionable milestones to sustain the Centre’s long-term effectiveness.
He stressed that the Centre is central to supporting evidence-based decision-making in West Africa and the Sahel, particularly in areas vulnerable to climate variability.
The Director General/CEO of NiMet, Prof Charles Anosike, who received the delegation, reaffirmed the Agency’s unwavering commitment to the success of RCC-WAS.
He highlighted NiMet’s readiness to provide technical expertise and advanced tools – including the indigenous MeteoWiz platform – participate in joint research initiatives, and support the development of cutting-edge climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities to benefit the entire region.
Prof Anosike added that the establishment of RCC-WAS represents a major opportunity to deepen knowledge exchange, strengthen early warning systems, and improve climate risk management across ECOWAS member states.
The visit marked a significant milestone in consolidating regional cooperation on climate services.
The meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NiMet and AGRHYMET, formalising their partnership and setting the stage for the effective operationalisation of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel.
