ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian Senate has urged the federal government to integrate mental health education into the national school curriculum, citing growing psychological challenges among students and educators across the country.
Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, made the call during a mental health program organized by the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative in Abuja. Banigo also serves as Grand Patron of the initiative and the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa.
“Education is more than the pursuit of grades; it is the shaping of character, values, and vision,” Banigo said in her keynote address. “Yet, we cannot expect excellence from a mind burdened by anxiety, depression, fear, or hopelessness.”
She warned of a rising crisis of academic burnout, substance abuse, and emotional distress among youth and educators across Nigeria and other African nations. “Too often, these challenges are misunderstood, dismissed, or spiritualized, leaving many to suffer in silence,” she said.
Banigo called for a shift from stigma to support, advocating for schools to become spaces of psychological safety and emotional growth. She outlined a series of proposed measures, including collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Health to embed mental health education in curricula, training for teachers and counselors in emotional intelligence and crisis response, establishment of mental health desks in schools and universities, community-based awareness programs for parents, and investment in youth-centered research to guide policy decisions.
The event featured two flagship activities: a National Students–Parents–Teachers Roundtable at the Federal Ministry of Education Secretariat and a continental webinar hosted under the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa. The roundtable gathered over 120 participants, including students, parents, educators, and NGO representatives. The webinar drew participants from 14 African countries.
Dr. Ameh Abba, Founder and President of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, emphasized the need to treat mental health as a developmental priority. “For far too long, mental health has been confined to hospitals and institutions,” he said. “But today, we reaffirm a new understanding — that mental well-being is the key to academic success, national productivity, and thriving communities.”
He added that emotionally aware teaching practices and psychologically safe learning environments are essential for building resilience and purpose among students. “This is just the beginning of a movement to embed mental well-being into the heart of education systems across the continent,” Abba said.
