By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

In a decisive push to strengthen its managerial backbone and improve service delivery, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has embarked on an intensive two-day Executive Leadership Programme (ELP) aimed at equipping its senior and mid-level managers with modern strategic management skills.

The training, organized in partnership with the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered), gathered top agency personnel in Abuja for high-impact sessions focused on performance, innovation, and adaptive leadership—critical pillars as Nigeria faces rising climate variability.

“No country need be poor if it has people and good management,” NiMet Director-General and CEO, Prof. Charles Anosike, declared while opening the programme.
He emphasized that effective management remains essential to tackling the evolving challenges of climate change.

According to Anosike, continuous improvement should be a central culture within NiMet:
“The key to operational success in growing uncertainty lies in the ability of managers to demonstrate a multidimensional approach to performance. Our work requires that we establish order, stability, and operational excellence while building trust and teamwork.”

A Strategic Shift in Public Sector Leadership

The programme delivered a range of targeted modules designed to sharpen leadership instincts and enhance overall efficiency within the agency. Training areas included:

Succession Planning – Developing structured pathways for future leaders.

Stakeholders’ Engagement – Reinforcing collaboration across government and industry.

Financial Management – Strengthening budgeting, expenditure control, and risk mitigation systems.

Public Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Leveraging creative thinking and PPP models for improved public service delivery.

Strategic Leadership & Management Grid – Balancing leadership competence with managerial discipline.

Organizational Culture – Promoting a values-driven, cooperative work environment.

Strategy Games & Simulations – Enhancing critical decision-making and team synergy.

Ethics & Team Leadership – Deepening transparency, accountability, and cohesion.

NiMet says the initiative underscores its long-term commitment to professional development, operational excellence, and building a resilient workforce capable of delivering accurate and timely climate and weather services.
With climate impacts escalating across the country—from agricultural disruptions to extreme weather events—the agency views strengthened leadership as essential to Nigeria’s national growth and sustainability.

The training, officials say, is one more step in NiMet’s broader drive to modernize its systems, enhance public trust, and deliver high-precision meteorological data for the nation’s safety and economic planning.