Niamey, 12 November 2025 – Dr Jean Baptiste Nikiema has officially assumed his role as the Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger. During a formal ceremony, he presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad, His Excellency Mr. Bakary Yaou Sangaré. The event, attended by key members of the WHO Niger team and government officials, underscored the long-standing collaboration between the WHO and Niger.
Following the credential presentation and customary welcome, the Minister held a strategic discussion with Dr. Nikiema, addressing critical health priorities at the global, African, and national levels. The Minister emphasized the WHO’s vital role as a technical advisor and secretariat for member states before highlighting the need for enhanced collaboration to bolster Niger’s health system and improve public health outcomes.
key health priorities discussed
Several priority areas for future cooperation were outlined, including:
- Primary healthcare access: Strengthening community-level health services to ensure broader coverage.
- Health system strengthening: Building resilient infrastructure and workforce capacity.
- Maternal and child health: Reducing preventable deaths through targeted interventions.
- Health promotion: Addressing social determinants of health and disease prevention.
- Emergency response: Enhancing preparedness and rapid response to health crises.
Dr. Nikiema commended Niger’s leadership in advancing public health, particularly its progress in:
- Vaccination campaigns against vaccine-preventable diseases;
- Reducing maternal and perinatal mortality;
- Eliminating onchocerciasis (river blindness);
- Effectively managing epidemic outbreaks.
The discussion also addressed the financial challenges facing WHO operations, with Dr. Nikiema acknowledging the Government of Niger’s support through the Ministry of Health. He praised efforts to mobilize local resources, digitalize health services, and expand telemedicine initiatives, aligning with the country’s strategic health priorities.
dr. nikiema’s expertise and background
Dr. Nikiema brings over three decades of experience in public health and health diplomacy to his new role in Niger. His expertise spans:
- Therapeutic development (preclinical and clinical research in molecular biology, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and medicinal plants);
- Health policy formulation;
- Universal health coverage;
- Health system resilience;
- Health emergency management.
Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions at both national and international levels, including:
- Director General of Pharmacy, Medicines, and Laboratories in Burkina Faso;
- University department head;
- Chair of the Board of the Muraz Centre;
- WHO Regional Advisor for Medicines and Health Products in Africa;
- Deputy WHO Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he managed crises related to epidemics, mass displacement, and natural disasters.
His contributions have been pivotal in establishing the African Medicines Agency, promoting local pharmaceutical production, strengthening regulatory systems, and coordinating pooled procurement for small island states in Africa, resulting in significant cost savings.
In addition to his professional roles, Dr. Nikiema has mentored over fifty PhD candidates in pharmacy and medicine, as well as ten public health master’s students. He is the author or co-author of more than fifty scientific publications in international journals, advancing knowledge in health policy, pharmacology, and health system resilience.
Fluent in French and English, Dr. Nikiema is recognized for his strategic leadership, risk management skills, and resource mobilization abilities. His priorities in Niger include:
- Supporting national health sovereignty;
- Prioritizing essential health interventions;
- Enhancing operational efficiency;
- Strengthening partnerships to mobilize additional resources;
- Aligning with national health priorities.