Meaningful societal change often begins with conversations, quiet and personal. Other times, it gathers momentum in rooms filled with students, advocates, community leaders, and stakeholders. The 3rd Asido Mental Health Conference, held in conjunction with the 6th Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay Competition, was a powerful reminder that mental health advocacy creates pathways for healing, dignity, stigma reduction, and systemic reform.
The late Ms Jemila Abubakar, Asido Foundation's first Programme Manager, left behind a legacy of passionate and structured impact in the mental health space. The JAME essay competition channels that legacy into action, challenging Nigerian undergraduate students to research and propose solutions to pressing mental health issues.
This two-day conference brought together mental health professionals, students, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to assess Nigeria's mental health landscape, combining knowledge transfer, diverse perspectives, and goal-setting into a platform for shaping the future of mental health care in the country.
Day One: Collective Participation and Compassion in Action
The first day featured a keynote address, goodwill messages, the screening of the Project Hope documentary, an award ceremony for JAME 2026 winners, and the investiture of newly appointed Mental Health Ambassadors. It drew a diverse attendance of state and non-state actors, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, academics, students, and civil society representatives. Discussions emphasized that meaningful reform cannot exist in isolation, as it requires coordinated engagement across sectors.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Oyo State, Dr Oluwaserimi Adewumi Ajetunmobi, reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritizing mental health and ensuring the delivery of quality mental health care across the Primary Health Care level. Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, Consultant Psychiatrist and COO of Asido Foundation, delivered a compelling keynote address envisioning a mental health landscape free from stigma, underdiagnosis, and funding gaps, one built on innovation, inclusivity, community-driven support, and strong partnerships across public and private sectors. The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Jide Odusolu, Executive Director of Octo5 Holdings, applauded the Foundation's efforts and urged attendees to champion mental health awareness, unashamedly, within their respective spheres.
A particularly moving highlight was the screening of the Project Hope documentary, an initiative that translates advocacy into tangible intervention. Through this project, homeless mentally ill individuals are picked off the street and provided with care, treatment, and rehabilitation. The screening was both sobering and hopeful, reinforcing that with the right support, these individuals can lead meaningful and productive lives. Prof. Jibril Abdulmalik noted that while Project Hope remains a pilot, prioritizing treatment and social reintegration is a shared responsibility that extends well beyond only Asido Foundation.
The formal investiture of Mental Health Ambassadors, namely Mrs Catherine Motunrayo Ige, Dr Azim Kunle Ashimi, Dr. Helen Chatburn-Ojehomon, and Mr Tukur Iskilu Akinola, symbolized a collective commitment to sustaining advocacy long after the conference concluded. From over 400 nationwide submissions, the top 15 JAME essay winners were also celebrated, with prizes of ₦250,000, ₦200,000, and ₦150,000 awarded to the top three finalists, a meaningful investment in youth-driven mental health advocacy
Day Two: Collaboration for Measurable Impact
The second day centered on collaboration, knowledge translation, and innovation. Researchers, artists, religious leaders, mental health professionals, and students explored how multidisciplinary partnerships can advance mental health awareness, improve health-seeking behaviour, and expand access to care.
Mental Health First Aid Training opened the day, targeting two key groups: the general public and religious leaders. Since religious leaders are frequently among the first people individuals in emotional distress turn to, building their capacity to offer psychological first aid and facilitate referrals when needed proved both timely and strategic.
Scholars and mental health experts then presented research papers on the conference theme: "The Future of Mental Health in Nigeria: Innovation, Community, Inclusion, and Collaboration." These evidence-based presentations examined systemic gaps, innovative interventions, and policy implications, reinforcing the essential role of research in driving informed reform. Complementing the academic sessions, a visual art exhibition translated complex psychological experiences into compelling narratives, humanizing statistics and deepening empathy. As the day demonstrated, while data informs strategy, art shapes understanding.
Plenary Speaker Prof. Eoin Killackey underscored the importance of aligning research with policy and lived realities, noting that without measurement, impact remains assumed, and without collaboration, reform remains fragmented.
As the conference closed, one truth stood firm: conversations about mental health must extend beyond conference halls into homes, classrooms, legislative chambers, and digital spaces. The 3rd Asido Mental Health Conference affirmed that advocacy, research, reintegration, and youth empowerment are most powerful when united by intentional, sustained action.