Nigeria in global spotlight as WHO launches traditional medicine advisory group

The World Health Organisation’s decision to launch its first-ever Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM) has resonated far beyond Geneva and New Delhi. For Nigeria, it marks a moment of validation—and opportunity—in a field long practised by millions but historically side-lined by global health governance.

Announced last week, December 18, the new advisory group is central to implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, an agenda designed to bring scientific rigour, policy coherence and regulatory clarity to a rapidly expanding sector of health care. Traditional medicine, WHO officials acknowledge, is no longer peripheral. It is embedded in cultural identity and increasingly forms the backbone of primary health care systems, particularly in Africa and other parts of the Global South. “This is a pivotal moment for traditional medicine,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data. “It embodies cultural heritage and national health identities, and increasingly, it constitutes a vital component of primary health care strategies.”

For Nigeria, the symbolism is especially strong. One of the two newly appointed co-chairs of the advisory group is Prof Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA). His appointment places Nigeria at the centre of global decision-making on how traditional medicine is researched, regulated and integrated into formal health systems. WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, explained that the rapid growth of traditional and complementary medicine has not been matched by strong evidence standards or sustainable governance. “The STAG was created to close this gap. It is not an academic exercise, but a formal WHO advisory mechanism providing independent, strategic and scientific guidance,” she said.

The 19-member advisory group, selected through an open global process, will guide WHO on research priorities, technical standards, integration into national health systems and policy options for Member States. Its inaugural meeting, held in New Delhi on December 17 alongside the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, identified urgent priorities that mirror Nigeria’s long-standing challenges and ambitions: evidence generation, preservation of indigenous knowledge, digital innovation, regulation, and community engagement.

For decades, Nigeria has grappled with how to harness its vast traditional medicine ecosystem—rich in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge—while addressing concerns around safety, efficacy and standardisation. The elevation of Prof Emeje, a long-time advocate of evidence-based natural medicine and pharmaceutical innovation, signals a shift from informal acceptance to structured global recognition. Beyond symbolism, Emeje said the implications are practical.

Emeje said the significance of the WHO’s action lies in the global attention it places on Nigeria, noting that the world is watching, expecting, believing in, and trusting the country to provide leadership on the global discussion table in this critical area. He described the development as further evidence that the WHO is a highly inclusive institution, with demonstrable policies aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of all people. According to him, the decision has also strengthened his personal resolve to continue serving Nigeria and the global community without expectation of reward. “This action by the WHO further fuels my passion to serve my country and the world selflessly,” he said.

The NNMDA DG added that traditional medicine should not be framed as a competing or alternative system within Africa’s healthcare landscape. “Traditional medicine is not an alternative to any other form of medicine in Africa—at least for now,” he stated, stressing the need for complementarity, scientific validation and responsible integration into existing health systems.

As WHO moves to draft the STAG-TM workplan for 2026–2027 and establish thematic sub-groups, Nigeria stands to influence global norms that could shape funding, research collaboration, intellectual property protection and the integration of traditional medicine into universal health coverage frameworks. In a country where millions still rely on herbal and traditional remedies as first-line care, the WHO’s move—and Nigeria’s prominent role within it—suggests that traditional medicine is no longer being asked to justify its existence. Instead, it is being challenged to meet global standards, while finally being given a seat at the table where those standards are set.