The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has strengthened its commitment to supporting farmers and agrarian communities through strategic partnerships with universities and higher institutions. The agency’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, highlighted this initiative during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taraba State University on February 13, 2025.

Speaking at the event, Professor Anosike emphasized the growing network of university collaborations, which he said enhances the accuracy of NiMet’s weather forecasts. “With additional climate and weather data from university partnerships, combined with our agency-owned weather stations, we can significantly improve our forecasting capabilities. This directly benefits local farmers and other climate-sensitive sectors,” he stated.

Professor Anosike further assured that NiMet would actively monitor the execution of these agreements to ensure that all parties fulfill their commitments.

In response, the Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, underscored the importance of the partnership in addressing the needs of both the university community and the broader agrarian population. “Departments such as Geography, Agriculture, and Ecotourism at our university will greatly benefit from this collaboration. Our agricultural faculty, which operates extension programs, will use the weather data to promote sustainable farming and climate-smart practices,” he said.

The MoU, set for an initial four-year term with the possibility of renewal, aims to advance meteorological and climatological research, climate change adaptation, and the delivery of valuable meteorological services across Nigeria. This collaboration will enhance capacity-building efforts and provide vital tools to improve resilience against climate variability in agriculture and related sectors.