In a landmark move for global healthcare, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the appointment of Nigeria’s Professor Martins Emeje as Co-Chair of the newly inaugurated Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM).
Professor Emeje, the distinguished Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), will lead the group alongside Dr Susan Wieland, Director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine. The appointments were unveiled during the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit in New Delhi, marking a definitive shift towards the scientific standardisation of natural healthcare.
The formation of STAG-TM is a cornerstone of the WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. The initiative seeks to bridge the historical chasm between traditional knowledge and modern clinical rigour.
Dr Sylvie Briand, the WHO Chief Scientist, underscored the necessity of the group, noting that the rapid global expansion of natural medicine has often outpaced regulatory oversight. “The STAG-TM was created to close this gap,” Dr Briand remarked. “It is not an academic exercise, but a formal WHO advisory mechanism providing independent, strategic and scientific guidance to help Member States navigate an increasingly complex field.”
The 19-member advisory body was selected through a rigorous global process to ensure gender and geographic parity. In selecting Professor Emeje and Dr Wieland, the WHO has signalled its commitment to “balanced, inclusive, and scientifically rigorous leadership.” Both figures are internationally renowned for their contributions to evidence-based research and the innovative development of natural products.
Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data, described the inauguration as a “pivotal moment,” acknowledging that traditional medicine increasingly constitutes a “vital component of primary health care strategies” across many nations.
During its inaugural meeting on 17 December 2025, the STAG-TM identified several urgent priorities to guide its initial two-year term:
- Methodological Innovation: Developing new frameworks for evidence generation.
- Preservation: The formal documentation of indigenous traditional knowledge.
- Digitalisation: Leveraging modern technology to catalogue and innovate natural products.
- Capacity Building: Ensuring robust community engagement and regulatory compliance.
The group is now tasked with drafting a comprehensive workplan for the 2026–2027 period, which will include the establishment of specialised sub-groups focused on regulation and integration. For Professor Emeje, the appointment not only elevates the profile of Nigerian pharmaceutical science but also ensures that the African continent plays a central role in shaping the future of integrative medicine on the world stage.
