In a groundbreaking move towards enhancing weather and climate intelligence in Nigeria, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tomorrow.io, a leading weather intelligence company based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, with notable presence across Africa and the Middle East.
The MoU established a collaborative framework between NiMet and Tomorrow.io, encompassing various areas such as the commercialisation of weather data, enhancement of weather and climate forecast accuracy and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in weather and climate intelligence.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja, the director-general of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. He highlighted NiMet’s commitment to fulfilling the mandate given by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, focusing on revenue generation and improved safety in the aviation sector.
Anosike emphasised the significance of technological advancements, including AI, in shaping weather and climate forecasts. He stated, “As an agency, NiMet is already doing a lot. We are always on the lookout for partners that will help us improve and expand our services. This partnership with Tomorrow.io will help us to do more for our various stakeholders across the socio-economic sectors we serve, including aviation, agriculture, marine, oil and gas, construction, academia, etc.”
Director of Africa Expansion at Tomorrow.io, Mr. Yaniv Gelnik shared insights into the potential impact of the collaboration. Drawing from experiences in Kenya and other countries they serve, Gelnik highlighted the feasibility of delivering daily downscaled weather and climate information to end-users, especially farmers, in user-friendly formats. He mentioned the value proposition that Tomorrow.io brings to the partnership, enabling farmers to receive daily weather intelligence on their mobile handsets, regardless of their location and in a language of their choice.
Gelnik underscored the role of AI in providing precise, efficient, and faster weather and climate forecasts compared to current systems and models. He expressed confidence that Tomorrow.io’s contributions would be of immense value to NiMet’s stakeholders across various industries in the country. The collaboration signals a significant step forward in leveraging cutting-edge technology to revolutionise digital weather and climate intelligence in Nigeria.
