The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has emerged President of the Board of Governors of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), giving Nigeria a stronger voice in the continent’s climate and weather policy space.
Prof. Anosike was elected to the four-year position on September 10, 2026, in Cotonou, Benin, during the 24th ordinary session of the ACMAD board of governors, held alongside the 22nd African Climate Outlook Forum.
His emergence places a Nigerian at the helm of a continental institution responsible for promoting the use of weather and climate information to support development, disaster preparedness and climate resilience across Africa.
The development comes as African countries face growing concerns over extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related risks.
With Prof. Anosike now heading the ACMAD board of governors, attention is likely to turn to what the new leadership will mean for Nigeria and the wider continent, particularly at a time when governments are under increasing pressure to strengthen early-warning systems and protect lives and property from climate disasters.
Under his leadership, ACMAD is expected to pursue stronger institutional governance, partnerships and climate services, while supporting the continent’s efforts to improve its capacity to anticipate and respond to weather and climate threats.
The election also represents a significant boost for NiMet’s standing within Africa’s meteorological community and highlights Nigeria’s role in continental efforts to improve climate information and resilience.
Prof. Anosike’s emergence comes against the backdrop of the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, which seeks to ensure that people globally are protected from hazardous weather, water and climate events through early-warning systems.
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The ACMAD meeting brought together members of its Board of Governors and institutional partners to review the Centre’s progress and strengthen its strategic direction.
The high-level opening session featured ACMAD Director-General, Ousmane Ndiaye; the Vice-President of the ACMAD Board and Director of Niger Meteorological Services, Adamou Aïssatou Sitta; African Union Commission Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Mr. Harsen Nyambe; and Benin’s Minister of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development, Georges Alé.
For Nigeria, the challenge will now be to translate the continental leadership position into stronger climate cooperation, better early-warning systems and practical benefits for communities increasingly exposed to extreme weather.
