By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The University of Abuja and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have strengthened their partnership to advance the Smart Climate Project, with both institutions agreeing to expand collaboration in climate research, data sharing and capacity development.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who led the university’s management team to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike.
Prof. Fawehinmi said the visit, undertaken on behalf of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, was aimed at advancing discussions on the Smart Climate Project and exploring other areas of mutual interest.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in joint research, deployment of remote sensors, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, weather stations, climate data utilization, academic-industry partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Anosike congratulated Prof. Fawehinmi on his appointment as substantive Vice-Chancellor and reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to closer collaboration with the institution, describing the university as the agency’s closest academic partner.
He disclosed that more than 60 per cent of NiMet interns are drawn from the university and recalled the agency’s previous support for the development of its weather station.
Prof. Anosike also urged universities to properly maintain NiMet-supported weather stations to ensure they remain operational for teaching, research and climate services. He further pledged that NiMet would establish a new weather station at the university.
Both institutions agreed to make climate information more accessible, practical and beneficial to students, researchers, farmers, planners and communities through the Smart Climate Project.
To drive the initiative, a joint technical team comprising officials of NiMet and the University of Abuja was constituted to identify priority areas of collaboration and oversee the implementation of agreed initiatives.
