Nigeria lobbies as Keyamo leads delegation to global meteorological conference
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)/Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Prof Charles Anosike, are among the Nigerian delegation participating in the ongoing Aeronautical Meteorology Scientific Conference (AeroMetSci-2024), organised by the Commission for Weather, Climate, Hydrological, Marine and Related Environmental Services and Applications (SERCOM).
The event, which gathered professionals and industry players within the WMO, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), academics, research, and aviation communities, is being held at WMO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and lasts from October 21 to 25.
The theme of the conference is: “Aviation, Weather and Climate: Scientific Research and Development for Enhanced Aeronautical Meteorological Services in a Changing Climate.”
The programme would showcase scientific and technological advances in meteorological observations, forecasts, advisories, and warnings, as well as expand focus on the integration of meteorological information decision support services into the global air traffic management system and examine further the impacts of climate change and variability on aviation.
Also in the Nigerian team are the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Amb Abiodun Richards Adejola, and the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Ahmed Umar.
During the week-long conference, the delegation would seek to understand recent developments in the science of meteorology and its application to operational aeronautical meteorological services, which NiMet considers critical to the mandate of the agency.
On the sidelines, the delegation engaged the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Prof Celeste Saulo, on bilateral relations between Nigeria and the body.
Keyamo, during the meeting, recognised the role of meteorology in nation-building and aviation safety, as well as the importance of Nigeria within the region, regarding technical assistance and capacity development initiatives for other member-states.
He highlighted areas that WMO could increase support to Nigeria such as training, skills acquisition, increased fellowship opportunities for NiMet staff, and early warnings capacity development for industrial professionals.
The minister canvassed increased WMO presence in Nigeria, recognising the WMO sub-regional office located and supported by Nigeria. He pledged that the country will continue to fulfil its statutory obligations to the regional office in Abuja and the global headquarters.
Keyamo, having approved that Nigeria develop a national roadmap of early warnings in line with the WMO Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, requested support to actualise the policy.
Also speaking, Anosike stressed that WMO’s support was key to Nigeria’s quest to become a Regional WIGOS Centre and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Centre of Excellence.
Responding, Saulo acknowledged Nigeria’s role in ensuring that no country is left behind in the region, and its support in helping to develop other meteorological services in the region. She lauded government support to meteorological services in the country, emphasising the importance of such backing, especially towards resource mobilisation for improved service delivery, and early warning system improvement, especially for extreme weather events in the developing world.
Saulo backed regional centres of excellence for meteorology and climate change. She equally pledged her support and that of the WMO for Nigeria, considering the strategic importance of the country to the development of meteorological services.
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