The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed to collaborate to enhance disaster preparedness in the region.
The Director General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, received a delegation from ECOWAS led by Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, at the agency headquarters in Abuja.
The collaboration, Anosike said, aims to strengthen early warning systems, provide technical expertise, and support capacity building in meteorology and climate science.
The partnership, he added is part of the global initiative “Early Warnings for All” (EW4All) and aims to enhance regional resilience through science-driven, people-centred climate action.
NiMet’s leadership in advancing climate services across West Africa was however commended by the ECOWAS delegation, which also recognised the agency’s pivotal role in responding to regional disasters.
The two parties discussed areas of mutual interest, including joint training programs, technical exchanges, and access to climate knowledge products.
They also explored the establishment of the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre, which would serve as a regional hub for coordinating multi-hazard early warning dissemination and addressing climate-related vulnerabilities.
The recognition of NiMet’s Training Centres as ECOWAS Centres of Excellence for capacity development in meteorology and climate science was also discussed.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed soon to formalize the collaboration and guide joint activities.
Both parties expressed commitment to scaling up regional resilience and supporting each other in achieving their goals.
Kasim Sumaina
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