A team from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has rounded off its eight-yearly re-accreditation visit to the Regional Training School (RTC) of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in Oshodi, Lagos.
NiMet said in a statement that the re-accreditation visit was led by the coordinator of learning and development at WMO’s education and training office, Dr. Paul Bugeac.
Speaking during the re-accreditation review meeting, Bugeac said the WMO had received uncomplimentary complaints about NiMet’s RTC for many years that got him worried.
“Things were really bad,” he said.
However, he said after the inspection tour of the facility, he was impressed by what he saw and what he learnt about the RTC in the last few months.
“It is good to see dedicated staff taking care of the student’s hostel facilities, cleaning the rooms, and looking after the air conditioning and refrigerators, also having solar panels on all the buildings to be sure that the power is uninterrupted, and not depending on the national grid. The example of Nigeria’s RTC will be shown to others.
“I’m impressed with the commitment, trend, innovation, and evolution at Nigeria’s RTC. Also with the new training courses and new perspectives offered. We will continue our collaboration,” he added.
The WMO officer saluted the commitment of Nigeria and that of the director general of the NiMet, Prof Charles Anosike.
He requested from NiMet to forward the necessary documents to complete the re-accreditation process.
“We need to have all the documents as soon as possible, because the report needs to be written and discussed, then submitted to the capacity development panel so that it can be promoted at the next executive council meeting in June 2025”, Bugeac said.
In his remarks, Anosike thanked Dr. Bugeac for acknowledging the tremendous progress the agency had made at RTC.
“I am happy to hear that what is outstanding for our re-accreditation is just documentation. We have brilliant hardworking meteorologists and scientists at NiMet,” he added.
On forwarding the required documents to WMO, Anosike said that will not be a problem.
“We are usually able to get things done, not just for the re-certification. We have been able to achieve a lot within four months leading to this WMO re-accreditation visit.
I assure you that we will ensure that RTC becomes viable. We are going to wait for your reports, study them, and respond positively.
“This institution is wearing two caps now. It’s also nationally recognised and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to offer Diploma courses in related disciplines,” he said.
