The Nigerian government and India have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration in the conduct of meteorological science, technical research and development.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) by its director general, Prof Mansur Matazu and director general of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
The agreement was signed during the recent executive council meeting of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) held in in Geneva, Switzerland.
Explaining the essence of the MoU, Matazu said 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 agreed to work together in the provision of WMO-standardised services in numerical weather prediction capability, meteorological sensor designing and satellite meteorology.
The 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 agreement 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 right to seek the intellectual property protection.
Both parties are also expected to ensure that such cooperation consists of their respective laws, rules, regulations and other international agreements to which both parties are signatories.
To ensure a seamless implementation of the memorandum, the two countries resolved that a technical committee of six members (three members representing each of the parties) shall be set up to “implement this MoU while the position of chairman of the committee shall alternate between the parties on annual basis.”
“The technical committee shall have the responsibility of advising on legal, training and financial procedures for the implementation of the MoU and monitoring the progress of the collaboration and prepare annual reports,” the agreement stated.
Speaking after the event, the minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika who oversaw the signing said the MoU marked another milestone in the unprecedented growth of NiMet.
He said the event “is a testimony to the global leadership of NiMet within the world meteorological community.”
He expressed the optimism that the recent signing of the NiMet Act “will be a tonic for further growth of the organisation both professionally and economically.
