Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has called for the inclusion of mental health education in Nigeria’s school curriculum, citing the link between mental health, discipline, and academic productivity.
Banigo, who also serves as the grand patron of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) and the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA), made the call in her keynote address during the commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2025, organised by MHEI.
She noted that education should focus on shaping character, values, and vision, stressing that excellence cannot be achieved by students struggling with anxiety, depression, or hopelessness.
“Across Nigeria and much of Africa, we face a growing crisis of academic burnout, substance use among youths, and rising emotional distress among both students and educators,” she said. “Too often, these challenges are misunderstood or dismissed, leaving many to suffer in silence. The school environment must become a place not only for intellectual development but for psychological safety and emotional growth.”
Banigo reaffirmed the Senate Committee on Health’s commitment to ensuring that every learner in Nigeria thrives mentally and academically. She called for collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Health to integrate mental health education into school curricula, train teachers and counselors in emotional intelligence and crisis response, and establish mental health desks in all schools and tertiary institutions.
She also urged the government to invest in local research and community-based awareness programs that promote mental well-being and national development.
The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative marked World Mental Health Day with two major events focused on bridging education and mental health reforms: a National Students–Parents–Teachers Roundtable in Abuja and a continental webinar hosted under AMHROA.
Held at the Federal Ministry of Education Secretariat, the national roundtable brought together over 120 participants, including students, parents, teachers, education officials, and NGOs.
Founder and president of MHEI, Dr. Ameh Zion Abba, emphasized that mental well-being should be treated as an educational priority rather than a medical issue.
“For far too long, mental health has been confined to hospitals and institutions. But today, we reaffirm that mental well-being is key to academic success, national productivity, and thriving communities,” he said.
The event featured interactive sessions where participants shared experiences and proposed practical solutions for improving emotional safety in schools. MHEI also launched a national online survey to collect data on students’ mental health awareness and coping strategies.
Participants recommended the inclusion of mental health education in the national curriculum, teacher training in psychosocial support, and the development of national guidelines for school mental health programs.