The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Integration Team as part of efforts to deepen innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and improve the delivery of meteorological and climate services across the country.
Charles Anosike, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, inaugurated the team, underscoring the agency’s commitment to complementing decades of physics-based weather forecasting with emerging AI-driven approaches.
According to a statement shared on the agency’s X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the move aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and ongoing reforms to modernise Nigeria’s meteorological services.
The newly constituted team will be responsible for identifying opportunities, standards, and best practices for the application of artificial intelligence in meteorology. It will also lead the integration of AI-based tools into NiMet’s operational forecasting systems.
NiMet said the initiative is expected to improve the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of weather and climate predictions by deploying hybrid models that combine traditional forecasting techniques with AI-powered analytics.
Speaking on the initiative, Anosike stressed that building internal AI capacity is essential for sustaining NiMet’s leadership in technological innovation among public sector institutions.
He noted that responsible deployment of emerging technologies will strengthen support for key sectors such as aviation safety, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and broader national development.
Members of the AI Research and Integration Team were drawn from different units within the agency, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to innovation and research. NiMet said this structure would encourage collaboration across expertise areas, including meteorology, data science, information technology, and climate research.
