Godwin Obasi
Obasi Godwin | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1984 | |
| 4th Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization | |
| In office 1 January 1984 – 31 December 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Aksel C. Wiin-Nielsen |
| Succeeded by | Michel Jarraud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi 24 December 1933 Ogori, Nigeria |
| Died | 3 March 2007 (aged 73) Abuja, Nigeria |
| Education |
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| Awards | () |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Atmospheric momentum and energy calculations for the Southern hemisphere during the IGY (1963) |
| Doctoral advisor | Victor Paul Starr |
Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi (24 December 1933 – 3 March 2007) was a Nigerian meteorologist and the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) from 1984 to 2003. He was the first African to serve as the head of a UN agency.
Obasi studied at McGill University and MIT, before returning to Nigeria, and hold key roles in the Nigerian Meteorological Department. He also served as a professor and dean at the University of Nairobi, where he advanced meteorological education. Obasi joined the WMO in 1978 and was pivotal in promoting global climate agreements. He was honoured with numerous awards, including Nigeria Centenary Award. He is remembered as "Africa's gift to the world of climate science".