By Gabriel Ameh
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has outlined Nigeria’s strategy to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve weather forecasting, emphasizing that reliable observation systems remain the foundation of accurate climate services for farmers.
Professor Anosike made the remarks during the Executive Council Side Event on “Scaling AI-Powered Weather Services for Farmers” at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Headquarters.
The high-level forum brought together meteorological experts, policymakers and development partners to examine how Artificial Intelligence can strengthen weather forecasting, improve climate services for agriculture and enhance global food security through innovation and international collaboration.
Speaking at the event, Anosike stressed that AI can only deliver accurate forecasts when supported by quality weather observations and robust data collection systems.
He called for greater investment in weather observation infrastructure across Africa to bridge existing data gaps, noting that stronger observation networks would enable countries to maximize the benefits of AI-driven meteorology and provide more reliable weather and climate information to farmers and other users.
The NiMet boss also highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence into its operations.
According to him, NiMet inaugurated an AI Research Team in January 2026 to spearhead the identification, evaluation and deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies across its services.
He disclosed that the agency has already developed key implementation documents, including AI Terms of Reference, Standard Operating Procedures, an AI Operational Framework with phased implementation milestones and documented AI use cases to guide the responsible adoption of the technology.
Anosike further revealed that NiMet is evaluating leading AI-powered weather prediction models while developing the MeteoAI platform to improve weather forecasting, climate prediction, forecast verification and early warning services.
He added that the agency is also assessing cost-effective computing infrastructure to support the operational deployment of AI technologies.
Reaffirming NiMet’s commitment to innovation, Anosike said the agency will continue leveraging Artificial Intelligence and modern geospatial technologies to strengthen operational meteorology and advance the Early Warnings for All initiative across Africa.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at ensuring farmers and vulnerable communities receive more timely, accurate and actionable weather and climate information to support livelihoods, improve agricultural productivity and build resilience against climate-related risks.
