The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to integrate mental health education into the national school curriculum to tackle the growing emotional and psychological challenges among students and teachers across the country.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, made the call on Monday during a mental health awareness programme organised by the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) in Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address, Banigo who also serves as Grand Patron of MHEI and the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa stressed the need to prioritise emotional well-being in education.
“Education is more than the pursuit of grades; it is the shaping of character, values, and vision. Yet, we cannot expect excellence from a mind burdened by anxiety, depression, fear, or hopelessness,” she said.
The senator lamented the increasing cases of academic burnout, substance abuse, and mental distress among students and educators, urging the government to move “from silence to action, from stigma to support.”
She added, “The school environment must become a place not only for intellectual development but for psychological safety and emotional growth.”
Banigo reaffirmed the Senate Committee’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian learner can thrive both mentally and academically. “We must work closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to integrate mental health education into school curricula, train teachers and school counsellors in emotional intelligence and crisis response,” she said.
She further called for the creation of mental health desks in schools, increased community awareness, and investment in youth-centered research to support policy reforms.
The event also featured two major initiatives; the National Students–Parents–Teachers Roundtable and a continental webinar hosted under the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA) aimed at bridging education and mental health reforms.
In his remarks, Dr. Ameh Abba, Founder and President of MHEI, said mental health should be viewed as a developmental priority, not just a medical concern.
“For far too long, mental health has been confined to hospitals and institutions, seen as an isolated medical issue rather than a societal development priority. But today, we reaffirm a new understanding that mental well-being is the key to academic success, national productivity, and thriving communities,” he said.
Abba emphasised that emotionally safe learning spaces are essential for nurturing resilient and purpose-driven students, adding that the growing momentum for reform “marks the beginning of a movement to embed mental well-being into the heart of education systems across Africa.”
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