A Nigerian Scientist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s continuous exclusion from the African Regional Directorate for the World Health Organization WHO.
Tomori, a renowned Nigerian Virologist who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Monday called for transparency, fairness and credibility in the process for nominating the Regional Director of (WHO) for the African Region.
He accused the government especially the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria of lack of support for the emergence of Nigerians in the process while accusing the ministry of bias in favour of candidates from specific tribes rather than supporting the most qualified individuals.
Tomori stated that the persistent geopolitical favoritism and calculated negligence have frustrated capable Nigerian candidates emphasizing the need to address specific aspects of the nomination process, including the submission of proposals, electoral campaigns, and the conduct of member-states’ and candidates.
He said that in spite having highly qualified candidates, Nigeria had never held the influential position in the WHO which he said is a worrisome trend that undermines and limits the career progression and aspirations of citizens in the organisation.
The names of the candidates for the election of the next Regional Director for the WHO African Region were sent by WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to the relevant Member States on June 14 while the next Regional Director will be elected in a closed meeting during its 74th session from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.