Nigeria, India sign MoU on weather research, others

The Federal Government and the Government of India have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding for collaboration in the conduct of Meteorological science, technical research and development.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency by its Director-General, Prof Mansur Matazu and the Director-General, Indian Meteorological Department, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, who signed on behalf of IMD, during the recent Executive Council meeting of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Explaining the essence of the MoU, the DG NiMet said that the main objective of the proposed collaboration is to provide bilateral relationship between NiMet and its Indian counterpart towards meteorological development in the two countries.

According to MoU, the parties have agreed to work together in the provision of WMO-standardised services in numerical weather prediction capability, meteorological sensor designing and satellite meteorology.

The agency added that other proposed areas of collaboration include; scientific research on meteorology and its applications in various sectors, ‘Nowcasting’ and early warning capabilities and capacity-building activities

A statement on Sunday by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, James Odaudu noted that the MoU would also provide all inventions, improvements, original works and/or discoveries, which are conceived or made during collaborative projects will remain the property of both parties who will jointly have right to seek the intellectual property protection.

Both parties are also expected to ensure that such cooperation consists of their respective laws, rules, regulations and other international agreements to which both parties are signatories.

The statement partly read, ”In order to ensure a seamless implementation of the Memorandum, the two countries resolved that a technical committee of six members (three members representing each of the Parties) shall be set up to implement this MoU while the position of Chairman of the Committee Shall alternate between the Parties on annual basis.

“The technical committee shall have the responsibility of advising on legal, training and financial procedures for the implementation of the MoU and monitoring the progress of the collaboration and prepare annual reports.”

Speaking after the event, Minister of Aviation, Hadi