Niamey, November 12, 2025 — Dr. Jean Baptiste Nikiema has officially assumed his duties as the new Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger. He presented his credentials to Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad, in a ceremony attended by WHO staff and senior government officials. This event underscores the long-standing partnership between Niger and the WHO.

The handover of credentials was followed by a strategic meeting where Dr. Nikiema and the Minister discussed critical health priorities for Niger, Africa, and the global health landscape. The Minister highlighted the WHO’s role as a technical advisor and secretariat for member states, emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration to strengthen Niger’s health system and improve population health outcomes.

Key health priorities for collaboration

Several vital areas of cooperation were identified:

• Primary healthcare access — ensuring communities receive essential medical services.
• Health system strengthening — building resilient infrastructure to deliver quality care.
• Maternal and child health — reducing preventable deaths through targeted interventions.
• Health promotion — addressing social and environmental determinants of health.
• Disease control — combating epidemics and non-communicable diseases.
• Emergency preparedness — strengthening response mechanisms for health crises.

Dr. Nikiema commended Niger’s leadership in health improvement, particularly its progress in:

• Increasing child vaccination coverage to prevent preventable diseases.
• Reducing maternal and perinatal mortality rates.
• Eliminating onchocerciasis (river blindness).
• Effectively responding to epidemic outbreaks.

The meeting also addressed the WHO’s financial challenges, with Dr. Nikiema expressing appreciation for Niger’s government support, including contributions to digital health initiatives like telemedicine and resource mobilization efforts.

Dr. Nikiema reaffirmed his commitment to aligning with Niger’s national health priorities, emphasizing sovereignty and strategic alignment to enhance health and well-being across the country.

Expertise and leadership background

Originally from Burkina Faso, Dr. Nikiema brings over 30 years of experience in public health and health diplomacy. His expertise spans:

• Therapeutic innovation — preclinical and clinical research in molecular biology, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and medicinal plants.
• Health policy — developing strategies for universal health coverage and resilient health systems.
• Health emergency management — leading responses to epidemics, population displacements, and natural disasters.

His career highlights include serving as:

• Director General of Pharmacy, Medicines, and Laboratories in Burkina Faso.
• Regional Advisor for Medicines and Health Products at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
• Deputy Representative of the WHO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he managed health crises.

Dr. Nikiema has made significant contributions to initiatives such as the African Medicines Agency, local pharmaceutical production, regulatory strengthening, and pooled procurement for small island states, generating substantial cost savings.

His academic leadership includes supervising over 50 PhD students in pharmacy and medicine and 10 master’s students in public health. As author or co-author of 50+ scientific publications, his work advances health policy, pharmacology, and health system resilience.

Fluent in French and English, Dr. Nikiema is recognized for his strategic leadership, risk management, and resource mobilization. His priorities in Niger include supporting health sovereignty, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering partnerships to secure additional funding in line with the country’s health priorities.