By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
At the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) Workshop for Peer Advisors and Implementing Entities in Casablanca, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Permanent Representative (PR) of Nigeria to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Charles Anosike, held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Mohammed Dhkissi, during a courtesy visit and guided tour of the Directorate of General Meteorology.
The discussion focused on strengthening joint collaboration in support of AI-based weather forecasting and early warning systems for all.
Mr. Dhkissi and Prof. Anosike agreed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establish a framework to foster mutual support in the implementation of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. The framework will also cover the exchange of expertise and support in setting up an instrument calibration centre in Abuja; collaboration in data management and Information and Communication Technology (ICT); exchange of expertise in education and training—particularly for instructors in French and English—to promote broader participation in the training institutions of both organisations; and knowledge sharing in NiMet’s Agricultural Meteorology model and stakeholder engagement strategies.
The parties also discussed Morocco’s interest in learning from NiMet’s experience in implementing its SOFF Peer Advisory Services, as well as the exchange of expertise in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in numerical modelling.
While acknowledging the already existing cordial relationship between both organisations—which has seen Morocco supporting Nigeria in meteorological data exchange, participation in NiMet’s Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum, and Nigeria’s participation in ClimAfrica hosted by Morocco—both parties pledged to strengthen these ties through effective participation in future events of mutual interest. They also reiterated their commitment to advancing cost-recovery drives aimed at enhancing climate resilience and the sustainability of both organisations.