NiMet, Sahel, IRI, Gates Foundation Launch ENACTS Initiative to Strengthen Access to Climate Data

NiMet, Sahel, IRI, Gates Foundation Launch ENACTS Initiative to Strengthen Access to Climate Data

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in collaboration with Sahel Consulting and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), and Gates Foundation has launched the Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) initiative to transform access to climate information in Nigeria.

The two-day event, held in Abuja under the Building Agricultural Systems Resilience in Nigeria Project financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also featured a Project Review Workshop with stakeholders across agriculture, health, water resources, blue economy and disaster management, among others.

ENACTS integrates ground-based observations with satellite data to deliver reliable, user-friendly climate information products.

A highlight of the launch was the unveiling of NiMet’s Maproom portal, an online platform offering over 40 years of high-resolution climate data at a 4km grid resolution.

The Maproom provides interactive tools for analysing and visualizing climate data, enabling evidence-based planning and decision-making across sectors.

In his keynote address, the Director-General/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, described the launch as “the presentation of a vision brought to life through consistency, partnership, and a shared commitment to national development.” He noted that ENACTS represents a “transformative step in making climate information accessible, relevant, and actionable for all Nigerians.”

Prof. Anosike, while highlighting that the application of theMaproom goes beyond a single sector of the economy,emphasized the platform’s impact on agriculture and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of improving food and nutrition security of the nation.

Explaining further, he stressed the Maproom will provide farmers with precise information on rainfall patterns, temperature forecasts, drought risks, and dry spell alerts that will empower them to make climate-smart decisions and improve food security.

He added that the initiative will strengthen national resilience, enhance early warning systems, and protect livelihoods from climate related disasters.

Participants at the workshop engaged in sector specific discussions and reviewed project milestones, with stakeholders expressing optimism that ENACTS would catalyse innovation, strengthen resilience, and enhance service delivery in climate-sensitive sectors.

By bridging Nigeria’s climate information gap, ENACTS is expected to advance climate-smart practices, bolster disaster preparedness, and reinforce NiMet’s role as a leading provider of meteorological services in Africa while supporting the Federal Government’s food security and sustainable development goals.