Nigeria has secured a place in global health decision-making following the appointment of the Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Emeje, to the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM).
Emeje was selected alongside 19 experts drawn from different regions of the world and was further named a Co-Chair of the group at the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held recently in New Delhi, India.
His co-chair, Prof. Susan Wieland, is the Director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine in the United States.
The advisory group was constituted as part of efforts to implement the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, aimed at strengthening the safe, effective and evidence-based use of traditional and complementary medicine worldwide.
Speaking in Abuja, Emeje said his appointment would help ensure that Nigeria and other African countries align their traditional medicine practices with internationally accepted standards.
He described the role as a major responsibility and an opportunity to reposition the continent within the global natural medicine ecosystem.
According to him, Africa’s inclusion in high-level global discussions on traditional medicine underscores the need for renewed commitment to research, regulation and development within the sector.
He noted that progress recorded in Nigeria’s natural medicine landscape had begun to attract increased attention from policymakers.
Emeje recalled that the House of Representatives had earlier called for greater prioritisation of natural medicine, while President Bola Tinubu had urged African leaders to invest in local research as sustainable solutions to the continent’s health challenges.
He explained that members of the advisory group were carefully selected to address sensitive issues surrounding traditional medicine, including cultural diversity, research gaps and commercial interests, with a focus on objectivity and global equity.
The NNMDA boss added that the group would work towards establishing solid foundations for traditional medicine by promoting safety, quality and efficacy through science-driven approaches.
Members of the STAG-TM will serve two-year terms, holding annual meetings and working in specialised sub-groups focused on areas such as evidence generation, regulation, integration into health systems and international collaboration.
The advisory group is expected to guide the WHO on global policies, provide technical input on standards and norms, and contribute to shaping research priorities for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, particularly for underserved populations.
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