The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting climate-smart agriculture and improved nutrition through stronger multi-sectoral partnerships.
Director-General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike stated this on Thursday
at the close-out ceremony of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) Project.
Anosike commended the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and its partners for driving meaningful improvements in Nigeria’s food and nutrition systems.
Describing the SNIPS project as a model for impactful collaboration, Anosike said the initiative demonstrated “what can be achieved when expertise, resources and passion are united for a common goal.”
GAIN is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to combat malnutrition and strengthen food systems for vulnerable populations.
He warned that climate variability remains a major threat to Nigeria’s food production, citing erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells as key challenges to crop yield and nutritional quality.
According to him, NiMet’s role in providing timely and reliable weather and climate information is critical to helping farmers make informed decisions on planting, harvesting and crop protection.
“This directly supports higher yields, reduces post-harvest losses and ensures that staple foods reaching Nigerian households are both abundant and nutritious,” he said.
The NiMet boss highlighted the SNIPS project’s impact across Benue State, Kaduna State, Nasarawa State and Oyo State, where nutrition-sensitive agriculture was successfully integrated with climate-smart practices.
He also praised the strong inclusion of women and youths in the programme, noting that empowering these groups is vital to building resilient and inclusive food systems.
Anosike stressed that Nigeria’s food security and nutrition challenges require sustained collaboration among government, development partners and the private sector.
He assured stakeholders of NiMet’s readiness to deepen cooperation with GAIN and other partners through expanded early-warning systems, improved farmer education and the promotion of innovation in climate-smart agriculture.
“As we celebrate the achievements of SNIPS, we must also look to the future. Your dedication is shaping a healthier, more food-secure Nigeria,” he said. “NiMet stands ready to collaborate as we move forward together.”
