Abuja: The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and integration team to advance weather forecasting innovation. NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, stated that this initiative is part of the agency’s efforts to enhance innovation, digital transformation, and service delivery in meteorological and climate services.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the inauguration highlights NiMet’s dedication to integrating AI-driven approaches with traditional physics-based forecasting methods. This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the modernization of meteorological services in Nigeria.
The newly established technical team aims to identify opportunities, standards, and best practices for applying artificial intelligence in meteorology. They will focus on integrating AI-based tools into NiMet’s operational forecasting systems to improve the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of weather predictions through hybrid AI-traditional forecasting models.
Building internal AI capacity is deemed essential for sustaining NiMet’s leadership in technological innovation among government agencies. Emerging technologies are being responsibly deployed to support aviation safety, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and national development.
Members of the AI Research and Integration Team are drawn from various units within the agency, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to innovation. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in NiMet’s ongoing efforts to leverage digital technologies and research-driven solutions to deliver world-class meteorological services in Nigeria.