Nigeria/Morocco Strengthen Ties to Deepen AI-based Weather Collaboration

The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has paid a working visit to his Moroccan, Mohammed Dhikissi. It was revealed that the visit is part of efforts to deepen bilateral collaboration on AI-driven weather forecasting and early warning systems. The visit took place on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) workshop for Peer Advisors and Implementing Entities in Casablanca. The SOFF workshop is one of the programmes designed to strengthen technical cooperation between Nigeria and Morocco in advancing climate services, data management, and predictive meteorology. During the meeting, Prof. Anosike and his Moroccan counterpart discussed areas of mutual interest, including joint research on AI-enabled weather models, capacity building for meteorologists, and the exchange of best practices for enhancing regional weather observation networks. He emphasized that leveraging AI technologies in meteorology would significantly improve the accuracy of forecasts and the timeliness of climate-related warnings, thereby enhancing resilience in sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and disaster management across Africa. The NiMet DG also highlighted the importance of regional partnerships in addressing the growing impacts of climate change, stressing that “Africa’s future in climate resilience depends on collaboration, innovation, and the intelligent use of technology.” Morocco’s Directorate of General Meteorology, renowned for its advancements in modern forecasting systems and climate services, expressed readiness to work closely with NiMet to develop a framework for continuous technical exchange and joint innovation in weather prediction and climate adaptation. The visit is expected to pave the way for a stronger partnership between both institutions under the broader framework of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), supporting the African continent’s push towards smarter, AI-enabled weather and climate solutions.

NiMet achieves ISO certification for aeronautical services, capacity building

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has successfully obtained recertification for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 and ISO 29990:2010, signifying its commitment to aeronautical meteorological services and capacity building. The ISO certifications were conferred at NiMet’s Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Lagos and the Muhammadu Buhari Meteorological Institute of Science and Technology (MBMIST) in Katsina. Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, the Director General of NiMet, shared the achievement in Abuja, explaining, “We embraced this challenge in 2013, maintaining our certification every three years. “We have recently been recertified for ISO 9001:2015, which covers aeronautical meteorological services in the six major international airports across the country. Our aim is to expand this coverage to an additional 10 airports nationwide. “We’ve also obtained recertification for ISO 29990:2010, specifically for our training programs. NiMet operates two training institutes similar to polytechnics—one in Lagos, the RTC, a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) accredited training centre, and the Muhammadu Buhari Meteorological Institute of Science and Technology (MBMIST) in Katsina, accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for offering diplomas. “This certification applies to training in various aspects of meteorology, including applied meteorology and climate change,” he further elaborated. Notably, NiMet holds the distinction of being the first meteorological service in Africa to attain these certifications. The agency is currently serving as an auditor for Malawi and Gambia. Furthermore, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development have approached NiMet to support them in obtaining the ISO certification. Prof. Matazu emphasized that the recertification signifies international recognition of the agency’s commitment to standardized service delivery, ensuring precision and efficiency in its operations. He also revealed that NiMet is progressing toward quality management systems and transitioning to Safety Management Systems (SMS) on a nationwide scale.