WMD: NiMet DG urges youth engagement in climate change awareness, action 

 

 

Posted by Sade Williams

 

As the world celebrates the World Meteorological Day today, Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, has called for youth engagement in creating awareness about the dangers of climate change and action that can be taken to curb it.

Speaking through his representative,  Prof. Effiom Oku, Director, Research & Training, NiMet, at the occasion, he said the Agency has taken a deliberate action at engaging the future generations by working with the youth in Nigeria as it has developed and implemented a programme called Young Meteorological Ambassadors.

The theme for this year’s event is: The future of weather, climate and water across generations’.

He also disclosed that it has taken a further step by signing Memoranda with several Universities in a bid to promote science Meteorology among students.

“In NiMet, we have placed special importance in the future generations by working with the young minds in the country. Usually, our weather observers are largely youths who begin their careers in the field of meteorology at a very young age. Similarly, we have designed, developed and implemented a programme called Young Meteorological Ambassadors whose members are here today.  While with the Young Met Ambassadors, the Agency does not neglect the University community. We have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with several universities in Nigeria to promote the science of meteorology within the academic institutions at tertiary level.

“On this note, I therefore encourage us as institutions and individuals to invest in our future generations, creating awareness on the dangers of climate change such as extreme weather and loss of livelihoods; and providing opportunities for them to proffer solutions thereby making the World a safer place for All. We must catch them young.”, he said.

While calling for cooperation among members states, Prof. Matazu said the need to work with common vision and goals cannot be overemphasized if the effects of climate change must be minimised.

“Over the years, society as well as science has evolved. Technology has allowed us to modernise the way activities are conducted in a more concise and efficient manner. We have witnessed the transition from an analogue society to a digital one, and the evolvement is expected to continue. In the same way, the world climate has transited from variability to change while variability still continues within different climate environment. The global atmosphere continues to warm while nations struggle to adjust to the reality of combating climate change amidst economic gains.

“The average concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to rise with devastating global consequences.  It is very clear, however, that no country in the world is immune against the effect of the changing climate, whether as an emitter or non-emitter of these gases. Indeed, happenings over the years have taught us all that weather has no boundary. The world has seen ravaging storms cutting across several international borders during their lifecycles.

“This therefore echoes the essential of cooperation at the core of existence of the WMO.  As an organisation of 187 Member States and 6 Member Territories, the WMO requires that all its members will operate with common vision and goals. The World Meteorological Day therefore, offers opportunity for member countries to converge ideas and resources; and align in one common thematic area.”, he added.

To support national and regional development, Matazu revealed that NiMet continues to render services in support of aviation, agriculture, construction, tourism, defence, water resources management, telecommunications, environment, communications, etc.

“The development of our products and services includes the effective utilisation of young minds as well as the experience within the Agency creating innovations to what we do and how we do them. This has positively impacted on our routine publications and on-demand services such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction as part of the Agency’s meteorological Early Warning System in line with the United Nations Early Warning for ALL.

“Other products and services include Hydrometeorological Bulletin, Annual State of the Climate report in Nigeria, Agrometeorological Bulletin, Climate and Health Bulletin, Daily weather outlooks and bulletins, TV weather forecasts, Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, Marine Bulletin, Impact-Based Weather Forecast, and multitudes of other routine and on-demand products and services cutting across all socio-economic sectors.

“As an Agency, we are also working to preserve our past resources in terms of publications and instrumentation while developing new ones, thereby providing a robust knowledge base for the upcoming generations.”.