By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet has earned a research grant from the United Kingdom Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) to African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (SWIFT).
He noted that the beneficiaries of this grant were carefully selected in line with their area of specialization and expertise, which suits the above grant. The experts from NiMet are: Mr. Ibrahim Ishiyaku, Aeronautical Meteorologist, Dr. Mansur Matazu, Meteorologist/Climatologist, Dr. Kamoru Lawal, Specialist in Atmospheric Science, and Mr. Eniola Olaniyan, Numerical Weather Prediction Scientist.
According to him, “The staff therefore will participate in International Research Project with Global Consortiums over a four-year programme by joining the team of 25 UK and 45 African Atmospheric scientists, Social scientists and Operational forecasters who would undertake fundamental scientific research into the physics of tropical weather systems, evaluation and presentation of complex model, satellite data, communications and exploitation of forecasts”.
The GM added that the project which would have direct impact on aviation, agriculture, energy, water resources, health and emergency response will ensure results can be translated beyond partner countries and into the wider developing world.
He stated that the achievement further underscores NiMet’s pacesetting effort in technological advancement of Nigeria and its ability to hold its own in the comity of scientists.
He said, “The participation of NiMet in this unique international African SWIFT project, will strongly support its capacity as a major training hub for Meteorology and Climate Sciences and as the WMO Regional Meteorological Training Centre for West Africa.
“NiMet, as provider of weather and climate forecast, in collaboration with Federal University of Technology, Akure, and other partners, will be involved in the study of predictability of African rainfall on sub-seasonal timescales, skill assessment of sub-seasonal to seasonal models, Satellite and remote sensing as well as synoptic methods of forecasting major rain-producing systems over West Africa. This will further help to produce highly–skilled professionals for Nigeria and West Africa in order to address the region’s weather and climate challenges” he noted.
