NiMet explores partnership with Vaisala, Meteo France for enhanced weather forecasting
The Director-General and CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike has initiated a significant tripartite partnership with Vaisala and Meteo France at the 78th Session of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Executive Council.
During a meeting with the representatives of Finland’s Vaisala and Meteo France International (MFI), led by Chairman Patrick Benichou on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Anosike highlighted the primary objective of the collaboration as ‘designing, building and operating’ a business model aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s capacity in weather and climate observation, forecasting, and dissemination of early warning information.
According to him, the initiative underscores Nigeria’s crucial role in the West African sub-region, particularly in meeting the growing demand for impact-based, multi-hazard early warnings necessary for climate mitigation and adaptation.
The partnership with Vaisala and MFI seeks to leverage the extensive experience and expertise of both organisations in observation and forecasting solutions, which have been successfully implemented globally, including in African nations like Angola and Ethiopia.
Key sectors targeted by this collaboration include aviation, agriculture, hydrometeorology, marine, and disaster risk reduction and management.
The anticipated benefits of this partnership encompass capacity and technology transfer, sustainable financing mechanisms, post-installation support, and change management strategies.
Prof. Anosike highlighted the importance of moving beyond technical monitoring to building community capacity, aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions of Nigerians.
“We must work towards achieving a human-centered early warning system,” he stated, emphasising the need for an inclusive approach to climate resilience.
This collaboration is one of the forward-thinking efforts of the NiMet DG to address Nigeria’s weather and climate challenges through international collaboration, promising significant advancements in the nation’s meteorological capabilities.
