Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has attributed incredible growth at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet) to a strong synergy between the political class and experts which has produced focused and right leadership to steer the ship.
This is just as he has encouraged NiMet in pursuing Public Private Engagement (PPE) to enable the agency get required funding as government financing is never enough.
Sirika made these known in an address yesterday March 2, 2023 during the 76th Session of the WMO Executive Council at the WMO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland where NiMet and India Meteorological Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) by its Director-General, Professor Mansur Matazu and Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director-General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) who signed on behalf of IMD, during the recent Executive Council meeting of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Explaining the essence of the MoU, the Director-General of NiMet, Professor Mansur Matazu said the main objective of the proposed collaboration is to provide bilateral relationship between NiMet and its Indian counterpart towards meteorological development in the two countries.
According to MoU, the Parties have agreed to work together in the provision of WMO-standardised services in Numerical Weather Prediction Capability, Meteorological Sensor Designing and Satellite Meteorology.
Other proposed areas of collaboration include; Scientific research on meteorology and its applications in various sectors, ‘Nowcasting’ and Early warning capabilities and Capacity building activities .
The MoU also provides that all inventions, improvements, original works and/or discoveries, which are conceived or made during collaborative projects will remain the property of both parties who will jointly have right to seek the intellectual property protection.
Also, in order to ensure a seamless implementation of the Memorandum, the two countries resolved that a Technical Committee of six members (three members representing each of the Parties) shall be set up to implement this MoU while the position of Chairman of the Committee Shall alternate between the Parties on annual basis.
The Technical Committee shall have the responsibility of advising on legal, training and financial procedures for the implementation of the MoU and monitoring the progress of the collaboration and prepare annual reports.
Minister of Aviation who spoke earlier on collaboration between the political class a d experts said, “One practice that has enabled Meteorological development in Nigeria is the strong synergy and support between the Political Class (which I represent) and the Expert (represented by Prof. Matazu).
“We strive to ensure we have the right leadership at the helm of affairs of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the Agency under the leadership of Mansur Matazu, has also demonstrated commitment to excellence by judicious utilisation of resources, broad stakeholders’ engagements, and result-oriented goals with clearly detailed regular reporting.
“… I call on the WMO to intensify effort in encouraging cooperation among Members and assist in bridging the existing gap between the Political Class and the Experts on the field.He added that NiMet has grown in size, visibility and relevance, not only in Nigeria but in the region and indeed globally and has not only continued to spin out new products but also intensify collaborative efforts with the region has contributed to Meteorological growth in the continent.
He stated, “NiMet forecasts provide a basis for the Annual Flood Outlook and Disaster Preparedness in Nigeria by both Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and National Emergency Management Agency (who are both in two separate Ministries of Governments).
On NiMet’s collaboration with other nations he said,”The Agency has provided interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Malawi in terms of Capacity Building. Technical Assistance, Quality Management Systems and Competency framework.
We have successfully hosted, provided leadership, and participated in Regional Climate Outlook Forums. “Nigeria was recently part of and led the Country Hydromet Diagnostic (CHD) in Liberia and Sierra Leone, we hosted a Study Visit by both National Meteorological Services of Republic of Niger and The Gambia, we provided hosting support for the WMO HydroSOS initiative and earnestly working to take the initiative to the implementation phase, and just on Tuesday, we are part of the SOFF Initiative as well.
According to him, these advancements are signs that the country can get it right with strong commitment and political support in its National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).
