The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, has inspected and officially launched the agency’s Meteorological Data Rescue Project, a major initiative aimed at protecting Nigeria’s climate records and strengthening its scientific capacity.
The project focuses on preserving historical weather and climate data, some of which date back to the 19th century and were at risk of permanent loss. These include handwritten observation registers, ship logs, and early instrumental records that extend Nigeria’s documented climate history beyond the digital era and help to close long standing gaps in existing data.
By recovering, preserving, and digitising fragile paper documents and obsolete media, the Meteorological Data Rescue Project safeguards Nigeria’s analogue climate archives and ensures long term access for researchers, policymakers, and meteorologists. The rescued data is expected to improve climate modelling, strengthen weather forecasting, reduce disaster risks, and support evidence based policy decisions, while also providing essential historical context for interpreting present and future climate trends.
Speaking during the inspection and formal launch, Professor Anosike described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. He explained that the project goes beyond record keeping, noting that it is designed to convert historical observations into a strong scientific foundation for climate resilience, sustainable development planning, and the delivery of modern meteorological services.
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The initiative aligns with global standards and best practices of the World Meteorological Organization and reflects NiMet’s ongoing commitment to modernization and digital transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It also strengthens Nigeria’s contribution to global climate science by making decades of atmospheric data available for contemporary analysis and informed decision making.
With the launch of the Meteorological Data Rescue Project, NiMet has reaffirmed its leadership in climate data management and digital preservation, while reinforcing the role of science and technology in supporting national development and climate resilience.
