The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Prof. Charles Anosike, has been honoured with the 2026 Nigerian Educational Excellence Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing meteorological education, climate science training, and research partnerships across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
The award was presented on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Faculty of Education, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, during a ceremony that highlighted contributions to educational development and scientific capacity building in Nigeria.
The recognition comes amid growing national and global attention on climate resilience, weather intelligence, and environmental sustainability, areas in which NiMet has increasingly positioned itself as both a scientific institution and an educational partner.
Representing Prof. Anosike at the ceremony was Prof. Vincent Weli, who attended alongside the Director of Legal Services, Barrister Shola Gabriel, and the Special Assistant on General Services to the DG, Dr. Emmanuel Uket.
In a statement delivered on behalf of the NiMet Director General, Anosike described the award as a reflection of the agency’s commitment to knowledge advancement, innovation, and national development through meteorological science.
“As the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), I am privileged to lead an organisation whose impact stretches beyond weather forecasting into the heart of our nation’s educational development,” Anosike stated.
He noted that NiMet has consistently partnered with educational institutions across Nigeria to provide curriculum support, practical meteorological training, and access to climate and weather data critical for research, learning, and sustainable development.
According to him, the agency’s initiatives include annual climate workshops, specialized training programmes, and the integration of meteorological modules into university curricula, particularly in disciplines such as environmental science, agriculture, geography, and meteorology.
“From hosting annual climate workshops to integrating meteorological modules into university programmes, NiMet’s contributions have strengthened the bridge between science and society,” he said.
Anosike, who also serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization, reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to building the next generation of climate scientists, weather experts, researchers, and innovators capable of responding to rapidly changing climate realities.
“Today’s recognition inspires us to deepen these partnerships and ensure that meteorological knowledge remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s educational advancement,” he added.
Speaking earlier at the event, Prof. Weli said the award reflected more than scientific achievement, stressing that Anosike’s leadership had transformed meteorological science into a practical educational and capacity-building tool reaching classrooms, universities, and young professionals nationwide.
According to Weli, NiMet under Anosike’s administration has significantly expanded collaborations with tertiary institutions by integrating operational weather data into academic curricula and research activities.
He explained that the agency has also intensified training programmes for young meteorologists and technical personnel in areas such as modern forecasting systems, climate data analytics, and impact-based weather warning systems.
“Under his leadership, the agency has expanded partnerships with tertiary institutions to integrate operational weather data into curricula in meteorology, geography, environmental science, and agriculture,” Weli said.
He added that Anosike’s emphasis on open data access and public communication has made NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction and daily Weather Outlook valuable teaching and research resources for lecturers, students, and climate researchers across Nigeria.
“This award recognizes more than technical innovation; it recognizes Prof. Anosike’s belief that education is the bridge between scientific knowledge and national resilience,” Weli stated.
“By embedding training, mentorship, and research collaboration into NiMet’s core mandate, he has shown that a public agency can function as both a service provider and an educational partner,” he concluded.
The award further reinforces NiMet’s growing role in Nigeria’s climate adaptation ecosystem, especially as the country faces increasing climate variability, flooding, extreme weather conditions, and agricultural vulnerabilities linked to climate change.
