A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the conduct of meteorological science, technological research, and development has been signed by Nigeria and the Government of India.
During the most recent executive council meeting of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Professor Mansur Matazu, Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director-General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
The signing of the MoU marked another milestone in the unheard-of growth of NiMet under this administration, according to Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, who oversaw the signing ceremony alongside the Indian High Mission to Geneva.
The event, in Sirika’s opinion, was also a superb demonstration of NiMet’s achievements in achieving worldwide leadership status within the international meteorological community during Professor Matazu’s present director-generalship.
The two nations agreed that a technical committee of six people—three from each party—would be formed to oversee the memorandum’s implementation in order to ensure its smooth execution. The chairmanship of the committee would be rotated annually between the two nations.
Special assistant to the minister of Aviation on Public affairs, Dr James Odaudu said in a statement on Sunday that “the main objective of the proposed collaboration is to provide bilateral relationship between NiMet and its Indian counterpart towards meteorological development in the two countries.
“According to MoU, the parties have agreed to work together in the provision of WMO-standardised services in Numerical Weather Prediction Capability, Meteorological Sensor Designing and Satellite Meteorology.
“Other proposed areas of collaboration include; Scientific research on meteorology and its applications in various sectors, ‘Nowcasting’ and early warning capabilities; and capacity building activities.
“The MoU also provides that all inventions, improvements, original works and/or discoveries, which are conceived or made during collaborative projects will remain the property of both parties who will jointly have the right to seek the intellectual property protection.” the statement adds.