Nigerian Scientist Oyewale Tomori has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s continuous exclusion from the role of regional director for the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region.

Mr Tomori, a Nigerian virologist, expressed his concern in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Tomori said that despite having highly qualified candidates, Nigeria had never held this influential position in the WHO. According to him, it is a worrisome trend that also undermines and limits the career progression and aspirations of citizens in the organisation.

He attributed this to a lack of governmental support, especially from Nigeria’s health ministry. He alleged that the ministry often showed bias in favour of candidates from specific tribes rather than supporting the most qualified individuals.

He said this persistent geopolitical favouritism and calculated negligence had frustrated capable Nigerian candidates.

“This pattern of internal opposition has resulted in Nigeria’s absence from a significant role in global health leadership, undermining the country’s potential contributions to WHO Africa’s mission,” Mr Tomori said.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sent the names of the candidates for the election of the next regional director for the WHO African Region to the relevant member states on June 14.

The candidates include N’da Konan Michel Yao, proposed by Côte d’Ivoire and Boureima Hama Sambo, proposed by Niger Republic, Richard Mihigo, proposed by Rwanda, Ibrahima Socé Fall, proposed by Senegal, and Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile, proposed by Tanzania.

Meanwhile, the African Regional Committee of WHO will vote to nominate the next Regional Director in a closed meeting during its 74th session, which will be held from August 26 to 30 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The nomination will then be submitted for appointment by the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board, which takes place in January 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The newly appointed regional director is expected to assume office on February 1, 2025, for a five-year term and be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.

The WHO executive board appoints the regional director in agreement with the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. Any member state of the region may propose one or more candidates for the position.

The regional director is elected by secret ballot at a private meeting of the Regional Committee.

(NAN)