NiMet, NITDA Forge Strategic Partnership to Deepen ICT Integration in Weather and Climate Services

Emmanuel Daudu

In a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s technological backbone for climate and weather forecasting, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have agreed to collaborate on harnessing the power of ICT for enhanced data management, innovation, and service delivery.

The partnership took shape on Monday, November 3, 2025, when the Director General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, paid a courtesy visit to the NITDA headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA. The meeting focused on fostering collaboration and exploring strategic areas of synergy between the two federal agencies.

Welcoming the NiMet team, Mr. Inuwa described the partnership as “long overdue,” but noted that “it’s better late than never.”

He underscored the transformative power of information technology across all professions and reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to deepening the adoption of digital solutions in critical sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the visit, Professor Anosike highlighted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is “essential to modern meteorological services,” powering accurate weather forecasting, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

He emphasized that the collaboration will enhance the credibility and efficiency of NiMet’s services across key sectors such as aviation, agriculture, the blue economy, and disaster risk management.

Showcasing NiMet’s growing innovation capacity, Anosike revealed that the agency’s in-house team had developed METEOWIZ, a pioneering weather solution designed and built entirely by NiMet staff the first of its kind in Africa. He noted that with NITDA’s support, this innovation could be standardized and even exported as a proudly Nigerian technological product.

Both agencies agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize the partnership, focusing on joint capacity-building initiatives, data management systems, digital transformation projects, and technological innovations. A joint technical committee will also be established to identify and execute collaborative projects aimed at integrating advanced IT solutions into meteorological operations.