NiMet, AIM for Scale Seal Deal to Deploy AI-Driven Weather Services for Nigerian Farmers
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has entered into a strategic partnership with Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale) to expand access to climate-smart, AI-powered weather forecasting services for farmers across Nigeria.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is aimed at improving how weather and climate information is generated, translated, and delivered to end-users in the agricultural sector. By integrating artificial intelligence into forecasting systems, both organisations seek to provide farmers with timely, accurate, and actionable insights to guide critical decisions.
Under the agreement, NiMet and AIM for Scale—supported by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—will deploy AI-driven tools to convert complex weather data into practical advisory services. These include guidance on planting schedules, input management, and strategies to minimise the impact of extreme weather conditions.
NiMet, which plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s climate information ecosystem, currently provides seasonal forecasts, early warnings, and digital advisory services. The new partnership is expected to enhance these capabilities by strengthening institutional capacity, improving communication channels, and extending the reach of weather services to underserved farming communities.
Nigeria’s participation in the AI Weather Forecasting Training Programme—an initiative of AIM for Scale, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and the University of Chicago—has also laid the groundwork for the initiative. Launched in Abu Dhabi in September 2025, the programme equips participating countries with tools to develop and localise forecasting systems tailored to their needs.
Speaking on the development, NiMet Director-General, Charles Anosike, described the partnership as a major step forward in strengthening Nigeria’s weather and climate services. He noted that improved access to reliable rainfall forecasts and climate intelligence would enable farmers to better plan planting and harvesting cycles while reducing vulnerability to weather uncertainties.
“Providing accurate and timely weather and climate information is essential for national development, food security, and disaster risk management,” he said.
At the MoU signing ceremony in Abuja, AIM for Scale Director, Imara Salas, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in agriculture. According to her, the initiative will help boost crop yields, improve resource efficiency, and build resilience among millions of smallholder farmers nationwide.
The partnership is expected to deepen innovation in Nigeria’s forecasting systems while ensuring that critical climate information reaches farmers in a format that is both accessible and impactful.
