WIGOS will raise NMHS observing capabilities, data coverage, NiMet DG

L-R: Abubakr Salih Babiker, technical coordinator for infrastructure, WMO regional office for Africa, Addis Ababa; Bernard Gomez, WMO representative for North Central and West Africa; Charles Anosike, professor and director-general/CEO, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Nigeria’s permanent representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO); Luis Nunes, WIGOS scientific officer (WMO); and Tchinda Tazo Simplice, permanent representative of Cameroon to the WMO, at the four-day training workshop for regional WIGOS Centres in WMO Regional Association ( RA 1 – West Central Africa) in Abuja, recently

Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Charles Anosike, director-general and chief executive officer of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Nigeria’s permanent representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has said that through the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs), such as NiMet, can build observing capabilities, achieve better data coverage at national, regional, and global level, improve economic efficiency and close existing data gaps.

Welcoming participants to a recent four-day training workshop for regional WIGOS centres in the WMO Regional Association ( RA 1 – West Central Africa) aimed at equipping participants with sufficient skills to use the WIGOS tools particularly for regional functions, make them aware and better understand their responsibilities related to RWIC functions, Anosike noted that the North, Central and West Africa region is facing challenges associated with diverse climatic conditions and the socio-economic impacts of weather extremes.

“We are vulnerable to droughts, floods and other weather and climate-related natural disasters that can have devastating effects on our economies. Therefore, strengthening meteorological infrastructure and human capacity has become a top priority,” he said.

He commended the WMO regional office for north, central and west Africa for its continued support for capacity development in Africa, and the opportunities available to NMHSs in the region.

The workshop drew participants from across Africa, including Bernard Gomez, the WMO representative for north central and west Africa.