By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The University of Abuja and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have strengthened their strategic partnership to advance the Smart Climate Project, with both institutions agreeing to expand collaboration in climate research, weather monitoring, and knowledge exchange.
The renewed commitment was reached when the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, led the University’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, in Abuja.
Prof. Fawehinmi said the visit, undertaken on behalf of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, was aimed at advancing discussions on the Smart Climate Project and exploring other areas of mutual interest.
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in joint research, deployment of remote sensors, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools, weather stations, climate data utilization, academic-industry partnerships, and knowledge exchange.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Anosike congratulated Prof. Fawehinmi on his appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor and underscored the importance of deepening institutional collaboration. He described the University as NiMet’s closest academic partner, noting that more than 60 per cent of the agency’s interns are drawn from the institution.
He also recalled NiMet’s previous support in establishing the University’s weather station and urged tertiary institutions to ensure proper maintenance of NiMet-supported facilities to keep them functional for teaching, research, and climate services.
In a major boost to the partnership, Prof. Anosike pledged that NiMet would establish a new weather station at the University to further enhance climate monitoring and research.
Both institutions also agreed to work towards making climate information more accessible, practical, and beneficial to students, researchers, farmers, planners, and local communities through the Smart Climate Project.
To drive implementation, the University of Abuja and NiMet constituted a joint technical team to identify priority areas of collaboration and oversee the execution of agreed initiatives, reinforcing their shared commitment to promoting climate resilience and innovation in Nigeria.
