In a significant development, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has entered into a collaborative venture with Bells University of Technology, located in Ota, Ogun state, to establish a cutting-edge weather station within the university premises.
The partnership, solidified through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday, January 18, 2024, was met with enthusiasm by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike. Expressing his satisfaction with the longstanding relationship between NiMet and Bells University, which commenced in 2008, Prof. Anosike highlighted the strategic significance of selecting Bells University of Technology for the initiative. He emphasized that the weather station would play a crucial role in disseminating NiMet data to farmers not only within the state but also beyond its borders.
Moreover, Prof. Anosike acknowledged the pivotal role played by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in fostering a positive association between NiMet and various stakeholders. Noting the former president’s interests in agriculture and commitment to addressing weather and climate change challenges, Prof. Anosike announced President Obasanjo’s intention to attend the 2024 NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) public presentation scheduled for February 20, 2024.
The NiMet Director General underscored the importance of timely data transmission from partner universities, urging commitment from these institutions. Prof. Anosike announced NiMet’s decision to establish a comprehensive weather station at Bells University due to the institution’s demonstrated commitment, with a call for measuring the impact of the weather station’s data on farmers’ activities and the broader economy.
In response, Prof. Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, the Vice Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, expressed his commitment to expanding the collaboration beyond the weather station project. Prof. Ojediran emphasized the need for joint research on climate change and the training of farmers, leveraging the data from the proposed weather station to address challenges in agriculture and other sectors.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who participated remotely in the MoU signing, reiterated his dedication to partnering with NiMet to address climate change issues. He highlighted his personal contribution of planting over three and a half million trees with a goal to reach five million, urging collective efforts to protect the environment and climate.
Professor Samuel Babatunde Agbola, Director of the Center for Climate Change at Bells University of Technology, expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative efforts between NiMet and the university. He requested that Bells University be acknowledged as an active and integral partner of NiMet in future endeavors.
Concluding the event, Engineer Hamid Abdulkareem Olayinka, the Director of Engineering and Technical Services at NiMet, highlighted the auspicious timing of the MoU signing, taking place ahead of NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction scheduled for February 20, 2024. Olayinka emphasized that the proposed weather station would not only facilitate smart agriculture but also encourage research, data gathering, and sharing between the two esteemed institutions.
