The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike has called for the adoption of innovative technologies to strengthen Climate resilience in Nigeria.
Professor Anosike made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Conference of the Nigerian Meteorological Society (NMetS), held alongside its 35th Annual General Meeting at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.
Delivering his keynote address, he commended NMetS for organising the conference.
He noted that its theme, “Advancing Meteorology: Harnessing AI, Satellites, and Big Data for Climate Resilience and Sustainability,” reflects the urgent need to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions that safeguard lives, livelihoods, and national development.
Professor Anosike stressed that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present-day reality, manifesting in rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, flooding, droughts, heat waves, and other extreme weather events that continue to impact ecosystems, economies, and societies, particularly across Africa.
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Highlighting Nigeria’s growing climate challenges, the NiMet DG pointed to increasing temperature extremes, shifting rainfall patterns, desertification in the northern regions, and coastal erosion in the south.
He noted that “traditional meteorological approaches are no longer adequate to address these complex issues.”
Professor Anosike underscored the transformative role of artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, and big data analytics in modern meteorology, explaining that AI-driven forecasts, combined with satellite observations and high-performance computing, are now central to NiMet’s operations.
According to him, “these tools enable more accurate, timely, and impact-based weather predictions.”
He further revealed that NiMet has entered into strategic partnerships with organisations such as AIM for Scale, Ignitia, Tomorrow.io, the Korean Meteorological Administration, and the China Meteorological Administration to integrate AI into its operational framework.
He said that NiMet’s Digital Climate Advisory Service (DCAS) is already delivering weather-based advisories to farmers, helping to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices across the country.
Professor Anosike emphasised the vital role of professional bodies, researchers, and educators in advancing meteorology and called on the private sector and civil society to support efforts to strengthen meteorological observation systems and climate services.
He also urged NMetS to mentor young professionals, promote ethical research, and bridge the gap between science and policy, in line with the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative.
Reaffirming NiMet’s commitment to leveraging science, innovation, and technology, the DG said “the agency remains focused on building a climate-resilient Nigeria.”
In recognition of his contributions to meteorological services, Professor Anosike was also conferred with a fellowship and commendation award at the event.