NiMet Opens New Chapter in Climate Dialogue with Stakeholders, Strengthens Service Delivery
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has declared its recently held Stakeholder Engagement Forum in Lagos a landmark step towards building stronger connections with its diverse audience and enhancing service delivery across Nigeria’s weather and climate sectors.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NiMet, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, described the forum as a reflection of a new era in the agency’s operations, marked by improved communication, transparency, and broader stakeholder collaboration.
The inaugural forum, themed “Early Warnings: Raising Awareness on Climate Risks and Promoting Early Action,” was the first of its kind by the agency. According to Mrs Adebayo-Arowojobe, the initiative was designed to project NiMet’s activities, showcase its products, and foster direct connections with stakeholders and the public.
“The forum was an avenue to project NiMet, showcase our products, and intimately connect with stakeholders and the public – informing them about our strategic plans, progress, and even challenges,” she stated.
She emphasised that the engagement, which comes nearly two years into the tenure of NiMet’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, builds on reforms introduced under his leadership. These reforms include the upgrade of forecasting equipment, enhanced staff welfare, and the repositioning of NiMet for greater efficiency.
Highlighting the forum’s objectives, Mrs Adebayo-Arowojobe said: “We want to open communication channels with stakeholders, understand how we are perceived, as well as learn precisely what problems they want us to solve. Engagement is essential to improving client satisfaction and managing expectations.”
The forum focused on several priorities, including enhancing service delivery through feedback, reinforcing NiMet’s value proposition to sustain patronage, and creating shared successes across industries.
Mrs Adebayo-Arowojobe also stressed the importance of building trust through “clear, concise, and transparent communication,” while noting that NiMet already has strong influence in aviation, agriculture, environmental management, and hydrology.
The agency, however, aims to extend its services to marine operations, oil and gas, health, construction, and other industries.
She added that stakeholder collaboration remains one of the key success factors under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s Strategic Plan 2024–2028. “This factor hopes to increase partnerships and participation for the optimum utilisation of resources in achieving goals,” she explained.
Acknowledging government support, she expressed gratitude to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda, she said, aligns with NiMet’s objectives.
Looking ahead, the Public Affairs Director outlined plans for a comprehensive mapping of stakeholders by geography, economic sector, gender, community, and service.
This, she said, would enable NiMet to better understand and serve its stakeholders while encouraging frank feedback as a catalyst to break down barriers and promote inclusivity.
She revealed that outcomes from the engagement will be widely communicated through radio, television, social media, and governmental channels in multiple languages to ensure nationwide accessibility.
“Our aim is to remain responsive and build lasting partnerships with all Nigerians, more especially those in need of our products and services,” she affirmed.
Mrs Adebayo-Arowojobe also highlighted the broad composition of NiMet’s stakeholders, which includes federal and state governments, policymakers, aviation, agriculture, and education sectors, the private sector, as well as the general public.
She urged Nigerians to take advantage of NiMet’s communication channels and reach the agency through its consumer protection desk at [email protected].
