The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet), in collaboration with First Green White Resources (FGW), organised a one-day dialogue in Abuja to explore and enhance timely and accurate information on weather reports.
While declaring the event open, the director general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet), Prof Charles Anosike, said the media dialogue aimed to work towards a common goal that is better informed, better prepared, and more resilient in the face of climate variability and extreme weather events in the country.
He said the success of NiMet does not rest solely on the accuracy of its scientific data but on the effective communication and dissemination of the information to the general public.
He said the media dialogue was the ultimate objective of some of the agency’s measures, especially by the current management, to provide the best policy science in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The NiMet DG said the agency’s management recognises the media’s importance and strategic role, hence the dialogue to enhance reportage.
“We recognise that the success of NiMet’s mission does not rest solely on the accuracy of our scientific data and progress.
“It equally depends on the effective communication and dissemination of this information to the public, which is where you, the media and civil society groups, play an indispensable role.
“This dialogue is the ultimate objective of some of the measures NiMet has taken, especially by requiring management to provide the best policy sense in line with the renewable agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
Speaking on staff welfare, the NiMet DG said he has taken necessary steps to address issues related to staff welfare, including facilitating the payment of outstanding salaries and other staff claims and benefits inherited by management.
According to him, one of the agency’s innovations in the last year alone was sponsoring staff in different training categories within and outside the country.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Bonaventure Melah, the chief executive officer of First Green White Resources (FGW), said a timely and accurate weather report could save many lives.
He said such a report could either force, inspire or empower people to take action for their safety and the overall well-being.
According to him, as journalists, we have a huge responsibility regarding the safety of life and, by extension, the overall well-being of humanity.
He said, “Our objectives for this dialogue include improving communication strategies, enhancing data and communications, and fostering cooperation between weather and climate experts, planners, and journalists so that journalists may work together with the agency’s staff without friction or unjustification.
“In the course of this dialogue, I encourage my distinguished colleagues to be free to ask questions, especially on the challenges you face when reporting weather and climate or other issues that are related to weather and climate, as well as discovering the opportunity in assessing reliable information needed to effectively convey complex scientific information to your own agencies.”
Melah also encouraged journalists to examine the current state of weather and climate reporting and suggest possible ways to improve the data quality and information delivery process.
“I also encourage you, journalists, to look at the current state of weather and climate reporting and suggest possible ways to improve the process for data quality information delivery to your various bodies.”
“On the impact of weather and climate reporting, we have to ensure that the public is well-informed and empowered to take action.
“Our objectives for this dialogue include to improve communication strategies, enhance data and communications, foster cooperation between weather and climate experts and planners and journalists, so that journalists may work together with the staff of the agency without friction or unjustification.
The CEO of First Green White Resources (FGW) urged NiMet to feel free to give participating journalists all the necessary information and clues on how to better report weather and climate.
