NiMet charges youth on climate hazards

Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) marked this year’s World Meteorological Day (WMD) with a call to the youths to stop engaging themselves in actions considered harmful to the environment.

“Weather and Climate: Engaging Youth” was this year’s theme for the Day and NiMet noted that the theme was particularly appropriate because the youth are also affected adversely by extreme weather events.

In a message on the occasion of the WMD celebration held in Abuja recently, the DG/CEO NiMet, Dr. Anthony C. Anuforom said the youth will have to contend with the negative impacts of severe weather on agriculture, infrastructure and the environment, if the present weather trend continued.

Anuforom said: “This is, therefore, an appropriate time to engage our youth by drawing their attention to, and equipping them to face the weather and climate challenges ahead. It is also an opportunity to introduce them to environmentally-friendly practices that reduce changes in the climate system.”

He added that despite the harsh and adverse weather conditions confronting the world, the youth can leverage on the growing body of scientific knowledge to deal with the challenges of weather hazards.

He said government will soon put into operation, the National Framework for Application of Climates Services (NFACS) as a platform for delivering climate services and reducing vulnerability of Nigerians to climate hazards.

Youth from Premier Academy, Lugbe and Capital Science Academy, Kuje, took part in the celebration and were hosted on a guided tour of NiMet’s weather monitoring and forecasting facilities.

World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually on 23 March to commemorate the entry into force in 1950 of the convention that created the World Meteorological Organization.