BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has noted the significance of the agency’s collaboration with CARE Nigeria, the local arm of CARE USA, in expanding the reach of its critical weather and climate information to end users.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Country Director of CARE Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, and his team to NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 18th February 2025, Professor Anosike emphasized that this partnership would enhance NiMet’s ability to bridge the last-mile gap in disseminating climate intelligence.
“What we do is very critical to preparing the nation for disaster response,” Anosike stated.
“We have partnerships with state governors through the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), as well as other organizations and ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) through whom we disseminate weather and climate information.
“Partnering with CARE, a major player in the humanitarian sector both globally and in Nigeria, will further enable us to reach the end users who rely on our data. We deal with perishable products—weather and climate information must reach farmers and other users promptly for it to be effective.”
Professor Anosike highlighted the increasing complexity of humanitarian crises worldwide, driven by the effects of climate change and global conflicts.
He stressed the urgent need to integrate climate-informed decision-making into broader poverty reduction strategies.
“It is important for us to discuss these issues and explore how climate data can be effectively integrated into poverty alleviation frameworks,” he noted.
“When climate-related disasters strike, they displace communities, fuel forced labor, and exacerbate human trafficking. These socio-economic challenges deepen existing vulnerabilities. By ensuring that weather and climate information is seamlessly incorporated into decision-making at all levels, we can better support sustainable development.”
In response, Dr. Abdu expressed his appreciation to Professor Anosike for the opportunity to explore collaborative efforts between NiMet and CARE Nigeria.
“CARE Nigeria operates as part of CARE USA, which was established in 1945 to support people affected by major crises.
Today, CARE operates in over 120 countries, including Nigeria. Our country office was established in 2017, initially focused on responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast.
Over time, we have expanded our scope to two key mandate areas: first, sustaining our humanitarian response in the Northeast and other crisis-affected regions, and second, deepening our development programs to foster long-term resilience,” Dr. Abdu explained.
He further emphasized the growing link between climate change and humanitarian challenges, particularly in Nigeria’s Northeast, where environmental factors have intensified existing vulnerabilities.
“We recognize how important NiMet’s work is, particularly in supporting smallholder farmers and advancing climate-smart agriculture. Our commitment to sustainable farming aligns with NiMet’s mission, and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate.
“Through this partnership, we aim to elevate climate-related conversations across Nigeria and advocate for policies that support climate resilience,” he stated.
Following the discussions, both organisations agreed to formalise their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the near future.
This agreement will establish a framework for collaboration, enabling NiMet and CARE Nigeria to jointly enhance climate adaptation strategies, improve public awareness, and strengthen disaster preparedness initiatives across the country.
