NiMet Convenes Stakeholders to Validate Draft 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, Strengthens Co-Creation for Climate Action
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has hosted a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to validate its draft 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), reinforcing collaboration and co-creation in the delivery of climate services for national development and resilience.
The meeting, convened in line with NiMet’s statutory mandate, brought together representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Ministry of Environment, aviation, agriculture, water resources, disaster risk management, health, humanitarian response, and other allied sectors.
The forum provided an inclusive platform to review the draft climate outlook, refine sector-specific advisories, and ensure the 2026 SCP is relevant, usable, and impactful across critical sectors of the economy.
Declaring the meeting open, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Professor Charles Anosike, stressed the strategic value of the Seasonal Climate Prediction to national planning and sustainable development.
According to him, the SCP goes beyond scientific forecasting, serving as a vital decision-support tool for a wide range of sectors, including aviation, agriculture, water resources, transportation, health, disaster risk reduction and construction.
He emphasised that effective stakeholder engagement remains central to NiMet’s approach to climate services delivery.
Professor Anosike noted that feedback and insights from users of climate information are critical to ensuring that NiMet’s predictions are not only scientifically sound but also responsive to the real-world needs of communities, institutions and policymakers.
He further highlighted that increasing climate variability and the growing frequency of extreme weather events require collective action, collaboration and shared ownership of climate solutions to safeguard lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
In his remarks, the WMO Representative to Nigeria, Dr Roland Abah, commended NiMet for aligning its SCP development process with global best practices, particularly its strong emphasis on user engagement and co-production.
He described NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction as a credible and dependable decision-support tool that continues to enhance climate resilience and preparedness across multiple sectors in Nigeria.
The Country Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mr Babatunde Ojei, also praised NiMet for the consistency and reliability of its seasonal forecasts.
He noted that SCP data has significantly improved humanitarian planning, early action and anticipatory response, especially in vulnerable and at-risk communities.
Similarly, the Director of Strategy and Innovation at the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), Hajiya Maimuna Lawal, lauded NiMet for producing highly practical and farmer-friendly climate information.
She stated that the Seasonal Climate Prediction has become indispensable in guiding planting decisions, reducing climate-related losses and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers, particularly women across rural communities.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Environment, Mr Jonah D. Barde commended NiMet for its consistency in delivering timely and reliable climate information that supports national environmental policies and climate action initiatives.
He specifically highlighted the Agency’s transition to digital climate services, describing it as a forward-looking move that enhances accessibility, transparency and efficiency in climate data dissemination.
According to him, NiMet’s digital innovations are also contributing to Nigeria’s climate finance architecture, including efforts to strengthen the country’s carbon credit potential through improved climate data generation and monitoring systems.
The meeting reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to delivering inclusive, actionable and sector-responsive climate services, while strengthening partnerships at both national and international levels.
As deliberations progress, stakeholders are expected to provide technical inputs and sectoral perspectives that will further enrich the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, ensuring it remains a robust tool for planning, risk reduction and sustainable development in Nigeria and the wider region.
