NiMet, GAIN Strengthen Partnership to Tackle Malnutrition Through Climate, Agricultural Research
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have announced plans to deepen their collaboration to address malnutrition through improved agricultural practices and climate research.
This was the outcome of a strategic meeting held at NiMet headquarters in Abuja on Friday, 21st March 2025.
The meeting brought together senior officials from both organisations to explore the link between weather patterns, soil health, and nutrition, with a view to fostering sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, underscored the critical connection between soil health and nutrition, emphasising that weather plays a pivotal role in determining soil quality and crop yield.
“It’s very important that we formalise the relationship between NiMet and GAIN so that we can increase our understanding of the relationship between weather, soil health, and nutrition. With that, we have a chance of fostering sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria and helping our people,” Anosike stated.
He revealed that NiMet had already begun downscaling its 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) into local languages through some of its partners.
He expressed confidence that once the SCP is officially released, both NiMet and GAIN could collaborate to disseminate the information to farmers across the country.
Responding, the Country Director of GAIN, Dr. Michael Ojo, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fighting malnutrition and praised NiMet for its consistent support over the years.
“We have been working together with NiMet for at least three years. NiMet has been a friend and family, giving GAIN support not only through weather forecasts but also by providing training to the farmers and extension workers we work with. We appreciate the support and commitment of the able team at NiMet. We are hoping to progress the relationship with NiMet further and include joint research and training to the list of activities,” Dr. Ojo remarked.
The partnership is expected to enhance agricultural productivity and improve food security by addressing the effects of climate change on farming.
Both organisations will collaborate on developing crop calendars, improving weather predictions for specific crops, and expanding climate prediction to cover more local languages and communities.
As part of their joint value chain activities, NiMet and GAIN will also work on climate change and environmental issues, focusing on how these factors impact agriculture and food systems.
The partnership aims to empower farmers with tailored climate information and best agricultural practices to improve crop yield and nutritional outcomes.
