The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike has called for stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to tackle climate-related risks in Nigeria’s agricultural infrastructure.
Professor Anosike who is also the Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the World Meteorological Organisation, WMO, said integrating climate data and adaptation measures into agro-projects is key to ensuring long-term stability and resilience.
He made this known during a workshop on Public-Private Partnership for Climate Information Services & Validation of the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) Programme in Abuja, Nigeria.
Commendation
The NiMet DG commended IFAD and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for convening the workshop.
He expressed his gratitude to IFAD’s Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, for her commitment and efforts in sustaining NiMet’s long-standing collaboration with IFAD through projects such as LIFE-ND, VCDP, and SAPZ.
Professor Anosike drew attention to NiMet’s achievements in climate services, including the recent launch of the Enhancing National Climate Services, ENACTS, Maproom, a tool designed to accelerate access to climate information in Nigeria, especially for those involved in agribusiness.
He noted that “the Maproom provides real-time weather forecasts, historical climate data, and tailored advisories to support farmers in making informed decisions about planting and harvesting, thereby promoting resilience and productivity.”
“I encourage you all to explore the NiMet Maproom by visiting the NiMet website and sharing your valuable feedback,”Professor Anosike said.
Underscoring the workshop’s objective, he said: “in line with this workshop’s goal to build a shared understanding of best practices for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Climate Information Services (CIS), NiMet is actively engaging with private sector practitioners across the CIS value chain to establish sustainable Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
“These initiatives aim to deliver timely and accurate climate information, enabling farmers to make informed decisions, improve crop yields, safeguard their livelihoods, and strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change.”
Read also: NiMet Emphasises Climate Risk Integration into Sustainability Reporting
The IFAD Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, applauded the exemplary leadership of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet.
Mrs Ekoue said; “NiMet’s work in generating and disseminating climate data and forecasts has been at the forefront of safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening national resilience.”
“The Agency’s role in forging stronger linkages between science, policy, and practice is indispensable. Going forward, deeper partnerships with the private sector and development actors will be critical to ensure that climate information is not only generated but also translated into accessible, affordable, and actionable services for millions of smallholder farmers,” she said.