The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) joined stakeholders at the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Stakeholders’ Forum held on the 10th and 11th of September 2025 at the Admiralty Conference and Event Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The two-day forum, themed “Early Warnings: Raising Awareness on Climate Risks and Promoting Early Action,” brought together government agencies, civil society groups, private sector actors, and development partners to discuss strategies for building a climate-resilient Nigeria through improved weather and climate information services.
HEDA, a long-standing partner of NiMet, was officially invited to the event and represented by Mr. Shobo Mayowa, Project Manager for EJSD, and Mr. Sakariyah Shakiru, Agriculture and Food Security Program Officer.
In his keynote address, NiMet’s Director General, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasized that climate observations and data dissemination must go beyond reporting to trigger meaningful action. He highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in co-creating solutions and ensuring that early warnings are translated into life-saving responses, particularly in vulnerable communities. Prof. Anosike also appealed for consistent investment in sustaining accurate and timely weather forecasts, reaffirming NiMet’s commitment to supporting food security, disaster risk reduction, and climate-smart development despite financial constraints.
The forum ended with strengthened commitments from stakeholders to work more closely with NiMet in the dissemination of early warnings. Participants also endorsed deeper partnerships across government, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to build a climate-resilient economy, while supporting NiMet’s cost-recovery initiative for sustainable service delivery.
For its part, HEDA Resource Centre reaffirmed its dedication to integrating climate information into its community-based projects and farmer education programs, ensuring that local communities are better informed and prepared to respond to climate risks.
Through its participation, HEDA continues to demonstrate leadership in climate advocacy and action, reinforcing its mission to safeguard communities, protect livelihoods, and promote accountability in Nigeria’s climate response.
