Meteorologists from 16 West African countries, Rep.DG, NiMet, Mr. Daniel Okafor and Directors, NiMet at the capacity building training workshop in Lagos.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization, WMO, is spearheading a training initiative for meteorologists from 16 West African countries under the United Nations’ Early Warning for All Initiative, EW4ALL.
NiMet’s Director General, Prof. Mansur Matazu while inaugurating the workshop in Lagos, highlighted the UN’s aim to protect every individual through early warning systems by 2027 to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
The training, World Meteorological Organization Development of Competency in Weather Forecasting Course, focuses on capacity building, knowledge exchange, and skills acquisition.
The Director General, NiMet Prof. Matazu said, there had been significant increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events globally, leading to huge destruction of properties and loss of lives.
To this end, Prof. Matazu represented at the event by the Director, Weather Forecasting Services, NiMet, Mr. Daniel Okafor emphasized the need to bolster the capacity to predict and respond to weather-related hazards.
“The workshop seeks to comprehend the complexities of weather prediction and develop systems that are accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of our communities”.
The ultimate objective of the workshop is to empower participants to implement robust early warning systems with an inclusive approach.
NiMet’s Director, Research and Training, Prof. Effiong Uko shed light on the training’s components, delving into the intricacies of early warning systems and emphasizing the broader focus on addressing not only technical challenges but also investing in the safety and well-being of communities.
“To train and further enhance the technical capacity of the participants to develop accurate and timely forecasting technics and innovative technology for early warnings and risk assessment that would provides policy and decision makers good affordable information”.
Two participants, Joshua Samoa from Ghana and Ashu Ngono Stephanie from Cameroon, shared their expectations from the training workshop.
“This is a very good platform for us to building our capacity not just individuals but also go back to build the capacity of other forecasters. I see this training as an answer to a prayer because we have been looking for ways to communicate to the population and we also have to look for a way to minimize so that, the population can understand what we are actually publishing”.
The theme, “Early Warnings for All,” underscores the comprehensive two-week training program’s commitment to enhancing meteorological capabilities across African nations.