The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forged a partnership with HellerWeather, an American-based weather content firm, to train its television weather presenters on the fundamentals of effective weather communication, forecasting, production and delivery. This collaboration aims to elevate the quality of weather reporting and meteorology broadcasting in Nigeria.
According to the director-general of NiMet and Nigeria’s permanent representative with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Charles Anosike the 12-month training programme seeks to enhance the communication skills of the agency’s weather presenters. As part of the initiative, national television stations will begin airing NiMet’s one-minute daily weather forecasts, complementing the agency’s existing outreach efforts on social media platforms. The training aims to empower presenters to establish a stronger connection with the audience by delivering informative, engaging and reliable weather forecasts.
A staff member of NiMet and a weather presenter, Wasiu Ibrahim expressed gratitude to the agency’s new management for prioritising staff training. He emphasised that the training will enable presenters to enhance their on-camera presence and overall effectiveness in delivering weather information to the public. The focus will be on refining presentation skills, including tone, pace and body language, to captivate and retain the audience’s attention across various media platforms.
The comprehensive training modules cover the fundamentals of effective weather communication, weather forecasting techniques, weather production processes and weather delivery strategies. Participants will benefit from the expertise of Tim Heller, an American Meteorological Society (AMS)-certified broadcast meteorologist, talent coach and weather content consultant.
By leveraging HellerWeather’s expertise and experience, NiMet aims to elevate the standard of weather reporting in Nigeria and ensure that weather information is communicated accurately and effectively to the public. Through this collaboration, NiMet endeavors to enhance its weather coverage both on television and online platforms, reaffirming its commitment to providing timely and reliable weather forecasts to support informed decision-making and ensure public safety.
As Nigeria continues to experience diverse weather patterns and climate variability, the importance of effective weather communication cannot be overstated. By equipping weather presenters with the necessary skills and knowledge, NiMet and HellerWeather are paving the way for improved weather awareness and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
The partnership between NiMet and HellerWeather represents a significant step towards enhancing weather communication in Nigeria. By investing in the professional development of its weather presenters, NiMet is poised to deliver more accurate, accessible and impactful weather forecasts, ultimately benefiting the Nigerian populace and contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development.
