By Emma Peter, Abuja
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has been elected President of the Board of Governors of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD).
Anosike’s election, which will run for four years, took place on September 10, 2026, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, during the 24th Ordinary Session of the ACMAD Board of Governors.
The meeting was held alongside the 22nd African Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF22), bringing together representatives of meteorological institutions and other key partners from across the continent.
In his new role, Anosike is expected to provide strategic direction for ACMAD while strengthening institutional governance, partnerships and the delivery of climate and weather services across Africa.
His responsibilities will also include supporting the Centre’s efforts to ensure that meteorological and climate information is effectively applied to development planning, climate resilience and socio-economic advancement across the continent.
The development is seen as a significant recognition of Nigeria’s contribution to Africa’s meteorological sector and further places NiMet in a strategic position within the continent’s weather and climate community.
Anosike’s emergence comes at a period when African countries are intensifying efforts to improve their ability to forecast, prepare for and respond to extreme weather and climate events.
It also aligns with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which seeks to strengthen early-warning systems and ensure that communities are better protected from climate-related hazards.
The Cotonou session considered the progress made by ACMAD and deliberated on measures aimed at improving the Centre’s governance and strategic direction.
Among those who featured prominently at the high-level opening were ACMAD Director-General, Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye; Vice-President of the ACMAD Board and Director of Niger Meteorological Services, Dr. Adamou Aïssatou Sitta; Director of the African Union Commission’s Department of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), Mr. Harsen Nyambe; and Benin’s Minister of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development, H.E. Georges Alé.
Anosike’s election is expected to further strengthen collaboration among African meteorological institutions as the continent confronts growing risks associated with extreme weather, climate variability and environmental change.
