The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has joined forces with Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, to establish a cutting-edge weather station on the university grounds.
During the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Abuja, the director-general of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike expressed his delight in the continued collaboration with Bells University, which had its inception in 2008.
Anosike highlighted the strategic significance of choosing Bells University of Technology, emphasising its role in disseminating NiMet data to farmers within the state and beyond. He also mentioned the longstanding support of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a notable advocate for weather and climate change issues. Obasanjo has indicated his intention to attend the 2024 NiMet’s seasonal climate prediction (SCP) public presentation on February 20, 2024.
“The MoU with Bells University will open other areas of partnership opportunities that will be mutually beneficial and contribute to economic development. As NiMet partners with other universities, we want them to show more commitment by transmitting back data to NiMet timely so that we can archive the data. Because of the commitment demonstrated by Bells University and President Obasanjo, NiMet will build a full weather station at Bells University. I am charging them when the station becomes operational, to measure the impact of the data from the weather station on farmers’ activities and the economy as a whole,” concluded Anosike.
In response, the vice-chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran conveyed former Obasanjo’s keen interest in fostering the partnership between the university and NiMet. He expressed a desire to extend the collaboration beyond establishing a weather station, aiming to delve into research on climate change and the training of farmers.
Obasanjo, who joined the signing ceremony remotely, emphasised his commitment to partnering with NiMet to address climate change. He shared his personal contribution to environmental protection, having planted three and a half million trees with a goal to reach five million.
The director of the Centre for Climate Change at Bells University of Technology, Professor Samuel Agbola expressed his delight with the collaboration and urged the agency’s DG to consider Bells as an active partner of NiMet moving forward.
In a vote of thanks, the director of engineering and technical services at NiMet, Engineer Hamid Olayinka highlighted the auspicious timing of the MoU signing, occurring early in the year and preceding NiMet’s seasonal climate prediction event scheduled for February 20, 2024. He emphasised the potential of the proposed weather station to support smart agriculture, encourage research, and facilitate data gathering and sharing between the two institutions.
The collaboration between NiMet and Bells University signifies a significant step towards leveraging meteorological data for the benefit of farmers and the broader economy, showcasing the power of partnerships in addressing climate-related challenges.
