NiMet Unveils AI Roadmap for Smarter Weather Forecasting at Global Agriculture Summit

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has unveiled its roadmap for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into weather forecasting and climate services, as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, , presented the agency’s strategy while participating in the Executive Council Side Event of the titled “Scaling AI-Powered Weather Services for Farmers.”

The event, held at the WMO Headquarters, brought together meteorological agencies, global experts and development partners to examine how artificial intelligence can enhance weather forecasting and expand access to climate information for farmers.

Speaking during the session, Anosike stressed that the success of AI-powered weather prediction depends on the availability of accurate meteorological observations and quality data.

He called for increased investment in observation systems across Africa to bridge existing data gaps, noting that such investments are critical to improving forecast accuracy and supporting climate-resilient agriculture.

Highlighting NiMet’s progress, the Director-General disclosed that the agency established an AI Research Team in January 2026 to coordinate the development and deployment of AI and machine learning technologies across its operations.

He said the agency has since developed comprehensive implementation tools, including AI Terms of Reference, Standard Operating Procedures, an operational framework with phased milestones and documented use cases to guide the responsible adoption of AI.

According to him, NiMet is currently assessing leading AI weather prediction models while developing the MeteoAI platform, which is expected to strengthen weather forecasting, climate prediction, forecast verification and early warning services.

He added that the agency is also evaluating cost-effective computing infrastructure to support the large-scale operational deployment of AI.

Anosike reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to embracing emerging technologies to improve meteorological services and advance the Early Warnings for All initiative, ensuring farmers and vulnerable communities receive timely, reliable and actionable weather information to support decision-making and reduce climate-related risks.