By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has emerged President of the Board of Governors of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s efforts to strengthen climate services and confront rising weather-related risks.
Anosike was elected to a four-year term on September 10, 2026, in Cotonou, Benin, during the 24th Ordinary Session of the ACMAD Board of Governors, held alongside the 22nd African Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF22).
His election is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s role in shaping continental strategies on weather, climate information and early warning systems, particularly as African countries intensify efforts to anticipate and respond to increasingly severe climate and weather-related hazards.
As President of the ACMAD Board, Anosike is expected to provide strategic leadership in strengthening institutional governance, expanding productive partnerships and advancing effective climate services across Africa.
He will also support ACMAD’s mandate of promoting the application of weather and climate information to drive sustainable socio-economic development across the continent.
The development further reinforces NiMet’s growing leadership role within Africa’s meteorological community and Nigeria’s commitment to advancing weather and climate services aimed at protecting lives and property, strengthening climate resilience and supporting economic development.
Anosike’s emergence comes at a critical period as African countries seek to build stronger systems for anticipating, preparing for and responding to increasing weather and climate risks, in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
The 24th ACMAD Board of Governors session brought together members of the Board and key institutional partners to review the Centre’s progress and chart a stronger strategic direction for its governance and operations.
The high-level opening session featured ACMAD Director-General, Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye; Vice-President of the ACMAD Board and Director of Niger Meteorological Services, Dr. Adamou Aïssatou Sitta; Director of the African Union Commission’s Department of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), Mr. Harsen Nyambe; and Benin’s Minister of Living Environment and Transport, in charge of Sustainable Development, H.E. Georges Alé.
Anosike’s election places Nigeria in a strategic position to contribute more directly to the continent’s collective response to climate change, extreme weather events and the growing demand for reliable, timely and actionable meteorological information.
