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Stella Omona
Nigeria will host the world’s leading weather, water and climate experts in October as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) stages the 2026 Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting, marking the first time the prestigious global gathering will be held on African soil.
The three-day meeting, scheduled for October 13 to 15, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, will be hosted by NiMet at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The event is expected to attract senior government officials, development partners, international financial institutions, climate experts and key stakeholders from across the globe.
The annual meeting will bring together the leadership of the World Meteorological Organization alongside representatives of the Alliance for Hydromet Development’s 17 member institutions, including major multilateral development banks, climate funds, United Nations agencies, regional and continental organisations, ministers, policymakers, private sector leaders, academia and users of weather, water and climate services.
Themed “Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services,” the conference will focus on strengthening global collaboration and mobilising investments to improve hydrometeorological services that support disaster risk reduction, food and nutrition security, water resources management, aviation safety, energy planning, public health, climate adaptation and community resilience.
Hosting the event places Nigeria at the centre of international efforts to advance weather, water and climate services while showcasing Africa’s growing leadership in hydrometeorological development.
According to NiMet, Nigeria will serve as a practical case study on how strategic leadership, institutional reforms and coordinated investment can strengthen national meteorological and hydrological services in line with the Alliance’s objectives while easing the financial burden of government investment in hydrometeorology.
The meeting will be organised around five strategic pillars: strengthening partnerships and Alliance coordination; mobilising sustainable investment; promoting innovation and public-private collaboration; delivering value through user-centred services; and building sustainable hydrometeorological systems capable of meeting present and future climate challenges.
The conference is expected to produce new partnerships, attract investment, promote technological innovation and strengthen international cooperation aimed at improving weather, water and climate services across Africa and beyond.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will serve as the Chief Host of the event.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Director-General of NiMet and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization, Professor Charles Anosike, said the country was honoured to host the global gathering.
“Nigeria is proud to host the Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting 2026 and promote the critical relevance of weather, water and climate services for de-risking national, regional and global socio-economic activities,” Anosike said.
The Alliance for Hydromet Development is a global partnership dedicated to strengthening hydrometeorological and early warning services through coordinated technical assistance, financing and strategic collaboration, particularly in developing countries vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
