A courtesy visit by AKADEMIYA2063 to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has deepened discussions on AI and big data for climate resilience. Managing Director, Dr. Debisi Araba, met with Director General/CEO, Professor Charles Anosike, to explore collaboration opportunities that support national development and help strengthen evidence-based climate and food security systems. The visit emphasised the need for improved knowledge infrastructure and stronger analytics across Africa.
During the meeting, Dr. Araba outlined AKADEMIYA2063’s mission to boost Africa’s capacity for climate resilience and food security. He identified persistent challenges such as weak agricultural data, limited analytical capacity, weak research-to-policy linkages, and inadequate monitoring systems. He added that the organisation focuses on building knowledge infrastructure, improving analytics, and translating research into actionable policies that drive measurable impact.
Professor Anosike welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed NiMet’s priority to enhance weather and climate services for national development. He highlighted the increasing importance of AI and big data in modern forecasting systems. He also explained that NiMet has trained staff who are already developing AI and machine learning models for data gathering, analysis, and forecasting.
Both leaders agreed that deeper collaboration will strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to emerging climate threats. They said NiMet’s meteorological expertise, combined with AKADEMIYA2063’s data-driven agricultural research and policy analytics, provides a strong platform for improving climate monitoring and food security planning. They also noted that enhanced data systems can support more effective climate adaptation strategies.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to establish a joint technical working group and develop a memorandum of understanding to guide practical cooperation. The organisations agreed to hold follow-up engagements to operationalise selected initiatives. They emphasised that the partnership aims to enhance climate monitoring, support food security systems, and reinforce sustainable development for the benefit of society and the environment.
