Nigeria will host the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, bringing together world leaders in weather, water and climate services for the first time on African soil.
According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Wednesday, the three-day meeting, scheduled for October 13 -15, Lagos, will be hosted by the agency at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The event is expected to attract the leadership of the WMO, 17 member institutions of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, development banks, climate funds, United Nations agencies, ministers, government officials, development partners, private sector operators, academics and users of weather, water and climate services.
The meeting, with the theme, “Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services,” will focus on mobilising investments to strengthen hydrometeorological services and improve resilience against climate-related disasters.
According to NiMet, the conference marks a major milestone as it will be the first Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting to be held in Africa, providing an opportunity to showcase the continent’s leadership in advancing weather, water and climate services.
Discussions are expected to centre on the role of hydrometeorological services in disaster risk reduction, food and nutrition security, water resources management, sustainable aviation, energy efficiency, public health, climate adaptation and community resilience.
Nigeria will also present its efforts in strengthening meteorological and hydrological services as a model for coordinating investments that support national development while reducing the financial burden of government spending on hydrometeorology.
The meeting will be organised around five strategic pillars: strengthening partnerships and Alliance coordination; mobilising sustainable investment; promoting innovation and public-private engagement; delivering user-centred services; and building sustainable hydrometeorological systems.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Director-General of NiMet and Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the WMO, Professor Charles Anosike, said the conference would reinforce the importance of weather, water and climate services in driving socio-economic development.
Under the leadership of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who will serve as Chief Host, Anosike said: “Nigeria is proud to host the Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting 2026 and promote the critical relevance of Weather, Water and Climate services for de-risking national, regional and global socioeconomic activities.”
NiMet said additional information on the global gathering would be released through its official communication channels in the coming weeks.
