Zaria: The Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, for the establishment of a mini-Automatic Weather Station (AWOS).
This is aimed at enhancing research and development in meteorology and nuclear science.
The MoU involves the installation of the AWOS at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) of the ABU.
Malam Auwalu Umar, Director of the Public Affairs Directorate at the university, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Zaria. According to Umar, the MoU was signed by the ABU and NIMET in Abuja on June 30.
The MoU aimed to strengthen research activities, leading to world-class outputs in meteorology and climatology, nuclear science and technology, as well as material analyses.
He added that Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of ABU, signed the MoU on behalf of the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), while Prof. Charles Anosike, Director-General of NiMet, signed on behalf of NiMet.
Umar stated that the installation was designed to support licensing requirements for the operation of the Nigerian Research Reactor-1 (NIPR-1).
He added that NIMET would also collaborate with the ABU’s energy research centre to promote and downscale Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), as well as maintain the meteorological instruments installed in the mini-automatic weather station.
“Again, NiMet will permit the institution’s staff and students with an interest in teaching, knowledge acquisition, research and training in climatology/meteorology to have access to the agency’s meteorological and climate data or information.
“The access is for research activities subject to the NiMet data policy,” he said.
Umar stated that under the agreement, NiMet would also undertake to identify locations for conducting gaseous and NORM mapping around airports.
He added that NiMet would also provide the cost and expenses for the use of consumables necessary for the enhanced instrumentation training in nuclear science research.
