Lagos: Professor Charles Anosike, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has received the Changemaker Climate Leadership Award for his work in turning weather and climate science into a practical tool for national development.
Anosike received the award at the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards, held on 3 November 2026 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of the centenary celebration of The Daily Times of Nigeria. The honour recognises his leadership in advancing meteorological development, carrying out institutional reforms at NiMet and applying weather and climate information to national development.
Reforms at the heart of the recognition
Since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December 2023, Anosike has pursued a reform agenda aimed at strengthening NiMet’s scientific and technical capabilities, modernising its operations and making sure meteorological information delivers measurable benefits to Nigerians.
Under his leadership, NiMet has been repositioned as a technologically driven, responsive and service-oriented institution. The award also acknowledges the agency’s growing capacity to provide reliable weather and climate intelligence that supports economic activity, protects lives, safeguards livelihoods and strengthens Nigeria’s resilience against climate-related challenges.
Anosike also serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization, placing NiMet at the centre of international cooperation on weather, climate and water services.
Why weather services matter for climate resilience
Reliable forecasts, early warning systems and climate information have become essential tools for governments, farmers, aviation operators and emergency agencies preparing for weather-related risks. NiMet’s services support aviation safety, seasonal forecasts and farming advisories for agriculture, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
Anosike’s approach has been to move meteorological services beyond the conventional task of forecasting atmospheric conditions, towards providing actionable scientific information that supports planning, policy formulation and decision-making across different sectors. The agency has also strengthened its participation in international conversations on climate resilience, sustainable investment, early warning systems and the role of science and technology in development.
A climate leadership award before COP31
The recognition comes just days before COP31 opens in Antalya on 9 November 2026, where adaptation and early warning systems are among the central themes of the negotiations. Strong national meteorological services are widely seen as a foundation for climate resilience, particularly for countries facing floods, droughts and shifting rainfall patterns.
As Indigenous climate champions carry their message to COP31 in Antalya, the Lagos award is a reminder that climate leadership is also being recognised at home — in the institutions that warn communities before disaster strikes and help farmers plan around a changing climate.
Key facts
- Award: Changemaker Climate Leadership Award, presented at the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards.
- Date and place: 3 November 2026, Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
- Recipient: Professor Charles Anosike, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet.
- Occasion: Centenary celebration of The Daily Times of Nigeria, marking 100 years of journalism.
- Recognised for: Meteorological development, institutional reforms and the use of weather and climate information for national development.
- Appointed: December 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
