The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Sasakawa Africa Association, and other partners, has concluded a 10-day Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE) Training of Trainers workshop aimed at strengthening climate-smart agricultural advisory services across Nigeria.
The workshop, which ended in Abuja, brought together agricultural extension professionals to enhance their capacity to translate weather and climate information into practical guidance for farmers, thereby improving agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, described agricultural extension officers as the vital link between climate services and farmers, noting that they play a critical role in converting weather and climate information into practical advice on planting dates, crop selection, and water management.
Prof. Anosike said the training reflects the shared commitment of NiMet and its partners to ensuring that climate information is accessible, understandable, and useful to farmers across the country.
He explained that the Nigeria-adapted Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum would strengthen the capacity of extension personnel to provide climate-informed advisory services, adding that evidence has shown that effective and localized extension services can increase agricultural productivity by between 20 and 30 per cent while reducing farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related shocks.
The NiMet Director-General urged participants to cascade the knowledge acquired through extension networks, farmer groups, cooperatives, and rural communities, stressing that the programme’s success would ultimately be measured by improved farmer livelihoods, enhanced climate resilience, and strengthened national food security.
He also reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to institutionalising and promoting the widespread adoption of the Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum as part of the Agency’s broader efforts to strengthen climate services for agriculture and support national food security.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the AGRA Country Director, Dr. Esther Ibrahim described climate risk management as an indispensable component of modern agricultural extension.
She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to provide farmers with timely, reliable, and actionable climate information that would enable informed decision-making and promote resilient agricultural production.
The closing ceremony was attended by representatives of partner organisations, including ILRI, AGRA, SEI, the Sasakawa Africa Association, and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants, who are expected to replicate the training across extension networks and farming communities nationwide, helping to bridge the gap between climate science and farm-level decision-making while improving farmers’ resilience to climate risks.
