Professor Charles Anosike, the Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is essential to modern meteorological services, weather forecasting, data collection analysis and dissémination.
He said this during a courtesy visit to Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Monday , at the NITDA head office.
The duo concentrated discussions on fostering collaboration and exploring strategic areas of partnership between the two key government institutions.
In his welcome speech, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, acknowledged that this relationship is long overdue, but as the saying goes, “better late than never.”
He further emphasized that IT serves as a catalytic and powerful tool for transformation across all professions. Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s mandate to deepen and accelerate the adoption of technology within critical sectors.
Building on this point, the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Anosike, stressed that ICT is an essential tool for weather forecasting and the analysis of complex climate data. He noted that this strategic partnership will enhance the credibility of NiMet’s services, benefitting sectors such as aviation, agriculture, the blue economy, and early warning systems for disaster risk management.
Anosike also informed the NITDA team of NiMet’s internal capacity, sharing that the agency’s staff have developed a weather solution known as METEOWIZ. This innovative solution, developed entirely in-house by NiMet staff, marks a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Africa, demonstrating the agency’s leadership in meteorological technology.
He added that the partnership with NITDA will not only support standardisation but also pave the way for the future export of technology developed within NiMet.
Both agencies agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of leveraging ICT for improved meteorological data management and dissemination.
The agencies also plan to explore joint capacity-building initiatives, technological innovations, data management, digital transformation, and collaboration on innovation projects.
During the meeting, both Director Generals agreed to constitute a joint technical committee to identify and implement specific collaborative projects. These initiatives will focus on integrating advanced IT solutions into meteorological operations and scaling up digital services for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Anosike’s visit to Inuwa marks a significant step towards building a strategic partnership that promises to enhance meteorological services and IT development across Nigeria.
The alignment of efforts between NiMet and NITDA is set to drive innovation, improve public service delivery, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s sustainable development.
