- NiMet’s Director General, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasized the agency’s commitment to climate-proofing Nigeria’s economy through timely weather and climate information
- The recent workshop aimed to enhance resilience among smallholder farmers and livestock keepers by identifying adaptation options and addressing climate challenges
The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has emphasized the agency’s commitment to “climate-proofing” Nigeria’s economy by providing accurate and timely weather and climate information.
Prof. Anosike made this statement while addressing participants at a 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.
NiMet and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) jointly hosted the event.
Speaking on the workshop’s significance, Prof. Anosike highlighted the need to build resilience among smallholder farmers and livestock keepers to improve productivity and adapt to climate challenges.
“This workshop aims to identify adaptation options, best practices, and adaptation gaps for smallholder farmers. It is timely, as NiMet is working on a strategic design to explore Nigeria’s pastoralist landscape, focusing on early warning systems for the sector to ensure sustainability and resilience.”
He acknowledged the collaboration with ILRI and noted its importance in advancing the UN EW4ALL (Early Warnings for All) initiative.
The workshop brought together critical stakeholders to assess and map agro-meteorological advisory services essential for smallholder farmers and livestock keepers.
It aimed to enhance resilience, identify gaps in climate information services, and ensure the delivery of actionable data to the last mile while promoting gender and social inclusion.
Anthony Whitbread, ILRI’s Program Leader for Livestock, Climate, and Environment, noted the workshop’s potential to:
- Improve participants’ capacity to access and utilize climate-smart advisories.
- Address gaps in information needs and data collection processes.
- Enhance the delivery of climate information to marginalized communities, ensuring inclusivity in agricultural planning.