The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerian farmers through strategic partnerships with universities and research institutions across the country.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taraba State University on February 13, 2025, NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing weather forecasting and climate data collection.
“NiMet’s network of university partners is increasing. This adds to the weather and climate data available to us in addition to the data being generated by our agency-owned weather stations. These various data enrich the accuracy of our weather forecasts in fulfillment of our mandate. These ultimately benefit the local farmers and other users,” Anosike stated.
He further assured that the agency would closely monitor the implementation of all MoUs to ensure mutual benefits for all parties involved.
In response, the Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing agricultural research and community development.
“We have departments of Geography, Agriculture, and others including Ecotourism at Taraba State University that would benefit from the partnership and intervention. Our agricultural faculty runs extension programs, so with the data generated from the weather station, we can raise awareness on sustainable farming and climate-smart practices,” Professor Bako said.
The four-year renewable MoU aims to promote meteorology, climatology, and climate change awareness in Nigeria.
It will also enhance the capacity of both parties to develop and provide relevant tools and services to stakeholders in the agricultural and environmental sectors.
This partnership aligns with NiMet’s broader vision to equip farmers and agrarian communities with accurate weather information, enabling them to make informed decisions that will improve productivity and mitigate climate-related risks.
