The director-general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike stated that the partnership with CARE Nigeria, part of CARE USA, will enhance NiMet’s ability to reach the last mile and other users who would benefit from its weather and climate data.
Anosike made this announcement while hosting the country director of CARE Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu and his team in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
“What we do is critical for preparing the nation for disaster response. We have partnerships with state governors through the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and various organisations and ministries, which help us disseminate our weather and climate information. Collaborating with CARE, a major player in the humanitarian sector both globally and in Nigeria, will help us reach the end users of our weather and climate information, in addition to our ongoing efforts. Our information is time-sensitive, especially for farmers and other users,” Anosike explained.
He noted that the current humanitarian crisis is becoming increasingly complex due to climate change and global conflicts. “It is essential for us to address these issues and explore how climate-informed decision-making can be integrated into poverty reduction frameworks. This is why we look forward to our partnership with CARE Nigeria. We need to identify issues impacting our communities. Climate crises can displace communities and lead to forced labor and human trafficking, further exacerbating existing challenges. Integrating weather and climate information for better decision-making is vital for sustainable development,” Anosike concluded.
In response, Abdu thanked Anosike for the opportunity to bring the CARE Nigeria team to NiMet for discussions on potential collaboration.
“CARE Nigeria is the country office of CARE USA, established in 1945 to support individuals facing major crises. The organisation operates in over 120 countries, including Nigeria. CARE Nigeria was founded in 2017 initially to respond to conditions in the Northeast, but it has since expanded its interventions to two primary areas: continuing humanitarian responses in the northeast and other parts of the country and deepening our development programmes,” Abdu explained.
He further stated that climate change has become a significant concern, contributing to humanitarian crises, particularly in Nigeria’s northeast.
“We recognise the importance of NiMet and the valuable work it does. We also engage with smallholder farmers and are committed to promoting climate-smart agriculture. We welcome the opportunity to partner with NiMet, as it supports our efforts. Through this collaboration, we aim to elevate climate-related discussions in the country and advocate for more climate-friendly public policies,” Abdu concluded.
Both organisations agreed to formalise their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
