A new partnership between the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Ignitia is set to transform weather forecasting for Nigerian farmers.
The collaboration, formalised through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has now entered its implementation stage.
As a follow-up to the agreement, a delegation from Ignitia, led by Mr. Yen Choi, visited NiMet headquarters in Abuja. The visit focused on discussions around rolling out the partnership framework. Both teams expressed strong commitment to ensuring Nigerian farmers access improved and more reliable weather information.
In his remarks, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, stressed the agency’s unique mandate.
“NiMet remains Nigeria’s sole legal provider and regulator of weather and climate data,” he said. He reassured the Ignitia team that NiMet is ready to grant access and licences to trusted private-sector partners under strict regulatory oversight.
The partnership will cover several strategic areas. Training will be provided on artificial intelligence (AI) for weather predictions.
Farmers will also receive targeted advisories for decision support. According to NiMet, this collaboration is designed to boost the accuracy of forecasts and increase agricultural productivity nationwide.
Agriculture is one of Nigeria’s most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Farmers face challenges ranging from droughts to unpredictable rainfall, often leading to crop losses.
With this partnership, NiMet and Ignitia aim to bridge the information gap by providing precise, localised, and timely weather data.
The two organisations also agreed to establish a joint technical committee within one month. This committee will design a detailed roadmap for integrating AI-based weather prediction tools into NiMet’s advisory services. The roadmap will set benchmarks, outline phases of implementation, and measure progress in real time.
Professor Anosike explained that the roadmap would allow for gradual but impactful deployment. “We want farmers to feel the benefits of this partnership quickly. Every stage will be evaluated to ensure results are achieved,” he said.
Mr. Yen Choi of Ignitia expressed optimism about the collaboration. He described Nigeria as a critical market where AI-driven forecasts could make the most significant impact.
He emphasised that Ignitia’s experience across Africa will help refine solutions tailored for Nigeria’s diverse agricultural communities.
Stakeholders believe the initiative will directly improve food security, support smallholder farmers, and contribute to national economic resilience. By applying AI to weather data, farmers will gain access to more accurate advisories. These, in turn, will help them decide when to plant, irrigate, or harvest.