Nigeria is set to become the centre of global discussions on weather, water and climate services as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) hosts the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development from October 13 to 15 at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.
The high-level meeting is being hosted by Nigeria at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Prof. Celeste Saulo of Argentina and is expected to attract leading figures in meteorology, hydrology, climate action and sustainable development from across the world.
The gathering will bring together the leadership of the WMO, representatives of the 17 other member institutions of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, development banks, climate funds, United Nations agencies, ministers and government officials, development partners, regional and continental organisations, financial institutions, private-sector stakeholders, academics and users of weather, water and climate services.
The three-day meeting with the theme: “Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services,” will focus on strengthening global cooperation and investment in systems that provide vital weather, water and climate information.
The 2026 edition will be particularly significant as it marks the first time the Alliance’s Annual Meeting will be hosted on African soil, providing Nigeria and the continent with an opportunity to demonstrate African leadership in global hydrometeorological development.
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The meeting will also examine ways to strengthen the systems that support disaster risk reduction, food and nutrition security, water resources management, sustainable aviation, efficient energy planning, public health, community resilience and climate adaptation.
For Nigeria, hosting the meeting offers an opportunity to showcase its experience in strengthening meteorological and hydrological services while demonstrating how strategic partnerships and coordinated investments can help expand access to reliable weather and climate information.
NiMet is expected to use the platform to highlight how national leadership and collaboration among government institutions, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders can support the long-term sustainability of hydrometeorological services while helping to reduce pressure on government funding.
The discussions will be organised around five key priorities: strengthening partnerships and Alliance coordination; mobilising sustainable investment; promoting innovation and public-private engagement; delivering value through user-centred services; and building sustainable hydrometeorological services.
The meeting is expected to generate discussions on new approaches to financing, innovation and delivering weather, water and climate information to communities, governments and businesses that depend on such services to manage risks and make critical decisions.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will serve as the Chief Host of the event.
Speaking on Nigeria’s role during the meeting, the Director-General of NiMet and Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the WMO, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the country is proud to host the global gathering and highlight the importance of hydrometeorological services to socio-economic development.
“Nigeria is proud to host the Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting 2026 and promote the critical relevance of Weather, Water and Climate services for de-risking national, regional and global socio-economic activities,” Prof. Anosike said.
The Lagos meeting is expected to strengthen international partnerships, unlock opportunities for sustainable investment, promote innovation and deepen public-private collaboration in the hydrometeorological sector.
NiMet said further details about the meeting and related activities would be communicated through its official channels.
