Bilikis Alege-Ibrahim is an accomplished Data Scientist and Meteorologist with over a decade of experience at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), where she made significant strides in improving the accuracy of weather forecasting and climate data analysis. Her career at NiMET allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the challenges in meteorology and climate science, motivating her to integrate advanced data science techniques to enhance the agency’s forecasting models.
While at NiMET, Bilikis identified the need to bridge the gap between traditional meteorological methods and modern data science innovations. She made efforts to improve weather prediction models and operational processes, tackling issues such as data quality, forecast accuracy. Despite significant advancements at NiMET, she recognized that further education in Data Science was essential to expand her technical expertise.
Driven by this vision, Bilikis pursued a Master’s in Data Science at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, where her thesis focused on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks a cutting-edge machine learning technique ideal for modeling complex, time-series climate data. This research represented a breakthrough, as Bilikis demonstrated that LSTM models outperformed traditional statistical methods, significantly improving the accuracy of climate forecasts, including predictions of temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
Building on this newfound expertise, Bilikis applied her research findings to various sectors, contributing to the development of predictive models that enhanced climate forecasting across industries such as agriculture, transportation, and public health. These sectors rely heavily on accurate weather predictions to make informed decisions. By integrating LSTM networks into the forecasting process, Bilikis helped these industries anticipate and mitigate the impacts of climate-related challenges.
Beyond her work as a data scientist, Bilikis has always been dedicated to giving back to the next generation of scientists. In 2024, she served as a mentor in the Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Tools for Climate Science program, where she guided early-career scientists in applying data science tools like Python, TensorFlow, and Keras to climate research problems. Many of her mentees have gone on to integrate these tools into their own research, contributing to the global effort to address climate change.
Her time at NiMET laid the foundation for her future success. She helped transform the agency’s approach to meteorology, integrating data science innovations into the core of its forecasting models. Through her leadership and technical contributions, she improved NiMET’s capabilities in climate prediction, setting the stage for more accurate, data-driven decisions in government planning and climate policy.
Today, Bilikis Alege-Ibrahim stands as a respected authority at the intersection of data science and climate science. Her career exemplifies the extraordinary ability to drive change in both fields. As she continues to innovate and mentor the next generation of scientists, her work promises to make lasting contributions to the global effort to combat climate change and advance environmental sustainability.