The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-powered weather forecasting to strengthen weather and climate information for farmers.
This commitment was underscored during a courtesy visit by the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale) team, led by Imara Salas, Director of the AIM for Scale Secretariat, and Mohammad Farrae, Scientific Director, to NiMet’s Director General/CEO, Prof. Charles Anosike.
The AIM for Scale initiative aims to promote agricultural innovation by scaling up weather services for farmers. The team outlined specific goals, including co-developing strategies for scaling up weather services and mobilising investment to deliver innovative solutions tailored to Nigerian farmers’ needs. This partnership draws on the combined expertise and resources of the AIM for Scale consortium, which brings together leading global organizations.
Anosike emphasised the importance of AI-powered weather services, which use advanced algorithms to improve forecasting accuracy and deliver information more quickly. He noted that NiMet is committed to meeting the growing demand for accurate weather and climate information, especially among smallholder farmers who require timely data to guide planting, harvesting, and risk management decisions.
The planned collaboration between NiMet and AIM for Scale is expected to deliver significant benefits to Nigerian farmers by providing reliable, real-time weather information. This will empower better planning, risk reduction, and improved agricultural productivity. By embracing these new technologies and partnerships, NiMet is paving the way for more effective weather services.
However, Anosike highlighted several ongoing gaps and challenges, particularly the limited network of in-situ weather stations across Nigeria, as well as the pressing need to expand radar coverage. To address these challenges, both parties agreed to develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on joint research initiatives. This MoU will strengthen collaboration and ensure the operational sustainability of the project, supporting the long-term delivery of innovative AI weather services in Nigeria.
The visit concluded with a tour of NiMet’s main weather forecasting facility, designed to demonstrate the agency’s current capabilities and provide tangible context for the expansion plans under consideration.
This development is expected to have a positive impact on the agricultural sector, enhancing food security and the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.