The Director General and CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to climate-proofing Nigeria’s economy through the provision of timely weather and climate information.
Prof. Anosike made this statement during a one-day workshop on ‘Understanding the Landscape of tAgro-Meteorological Data Resources and Processes for Facilitating Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption’, jointly organised by NiMet and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Abuja on Monday, November 18, 2024.
In his address, Prof. Anosike highlighted the importance of the workshop in equipping stakeholders with the knowledge to build resilience among smallholder farmers and livestock keepers.
He stated, “This workshop is aimed at increasing productivity by identifying adaptation options, best practices, and gaps for smallholder farmers.
The timing is critical as NiMet is designing strategies to strengthen pastoralist engagement and develop sector-specific early warning systems to enhance resilience and sustainability, advancing the UN’s EW4ALL initiative.”
Prof. Anosike emphasized the evolution of NiMet’s agrometeorological advisories, particularly the adoption of co-production supported by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
This approach involves key stakeholders in the creation of weather and climate information, improving its accuracy, relevance, and utility.
“The workshop provides an avenue for mapping critical climate advisory needs for smallholder farmers and livestock keepers. It underscores NiMet’s commitment to fostering inclusive and impactful climate-smart agricultural practices,” he added.
Dr. Anthony Whitbread, Program Leader for Livestock, Climate, and Environment at ILRI, noted that the workshop aimed to enhance participants’ capacity to identify gaps in climate data collection, delivery processes, and inclusivity, particularly in addressing gender and social dynamics.
Similarly, Rupsha Banerjee, Senior Scientist for Institutions and Innovation at ILRI, outlined the workshop’s expected outcomes, including the development of a country profile, infographics, and strategies for delivering climate services through public and private sectors in Nigeria.
Left to Right: Dhulipala Ram Kiran, Research Scientist at ILRI; Dr. Anthony Whitbread, Program Leader for Livestock, Climate, and Environment at ILRI; Prof. Charles Anosike, DG/CEO of NiMet; and Rupsha Banerjee, Senior Scientist at ILRI, at the one-day workshop on ‘Understanding the Landscape of Agro-Meteorological Data Resources and Processes for Facilitating Climate-Smart Agriculture Adoption’ in Abuja on Monday, November 18, 2024.
