Air Quality Monitoring: NiMet Trains Meteorologists

In a bid to meet some aspects of its mandates that relates to improving the health of citizens through advisories on the quality of air obtains across the country, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has embarked on the training of the meteorologists recently deployed to the Air Quality Monitoring Unit on aspects of air quality monitoring and forecasting.

The training is aimed at developing the capacities of the staff on air quality monitoring, development of forecasts and advisories for use by stakeholders whose endeavours are impacted by the quality of the air around their environment.

During the training which took place in the WASCAL Hall of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the DG/CEO, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, who was represented by the Director, Weather Forecasting Services, Engr. Mailadi Yusuf Abba Misau disclosed that to catch up with the advances in computing and technology, the Agency has embarked on a series of well-articulated training and re-training of staff in all departments so as to keep them abreast of developments in the business of weather observation and forecasting with the ultimate aim of developing their capacities to make them more productive and effective

Matazu observed that the world was going through very difficult times as a result of how climate change, which is a consequence of the emission of greenhouses (GHG) into the atmosphere, through anthropogenic activities, impacts all sectors of human endeavour including how the weather has become very variable and therefore difficult to predict, this training will be very useful as those gases that impact on the environment and that contribute to Climate Change and pollution levels in the country will be highlighted and ways to track and monitor them fully articulated for the benefit of the country.

He urged the trainees to take the exercise seriously and see it as an opportunity for the development of their careers and assured them of his continued support while expecting to see them utilize the knowledge and skills acquired on their return to their desks.

Prof. Matazu used the opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor of FUTA and the Director of WASCAL for allowing NiMet to use the hall and associated facilities, and the lecturers for agreeing to participate as resource persons despite the short notice given.

He also thanked the Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research of the Nigerian Space Research Development Agency (CAR-NASRDA) for his support and agreement to partake in this training.

The NiMet boss appreciated the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ondo State, on Environment and the Director, Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency, (OSEPA) who on very short notice, also, agreed to be part of the occasion and hoped this will be the beginning of a fruitful partnership between NiMet and the Ondo State Government for the delivery of weather and climate information services in order to improve livelihoods and ensure environmental sustainability across the State.