…as Experts Warn of Rising Youth Crisis

By Favour Ulebor

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education, health, and youth development sectors have called for the urgent institutionalisation of school-based mental health systems, moving beyond fragmented initiatives to a coordinated national framework that ensures access to structured support for young people.

The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a Policy Dialogue on Institutionalising School-Based Mental Health Systems: From Clubs to a National Framework, convened by the Initiative for Self Esteem Education and Advocacy (ISEEA) in partnership with key stakeholders.

In her opening remarks, Founder and Executive Director of ISEEA, Rosemary Ochiwu, highlighted the need to move from conversations to concrete action, stressing that mental health must be treated as both a social and policy priority.

She noted that schools remain one of the most effective platforms to reach young people at scale, yet existing interventions are not institutionalised.

She said, “Today is not just another conversation. It is a call to move from awareness to action, from isolated efforts to structured systems, and from intention to policy.”

Ochiwu further underscored the personal and societal dimensions of the issue, pointing out that many young people continue to struggle without adequate support systems, while stigma and underfunding persist across the country.

Speaking on government efforts, Deputy Director, Department of Youth Health, Mental and Psychosocial Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Chukwuma Ugwoke, said the Ministry has taken steps to address youth mental health through the creation of a dedicated department and targeted programmes.

He said, “Just last year, May, the Ministry got two new departments on behalf of Nigerian youth… And one of the departments is Youth Health, Mental and Psychosocial Affairs Department.”

Ugwoke explained that the Ministry also launched the “Yo Health” initiative, which covers multiple pillars of youth health, including mental health, communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He stressed that addressing mental health is critical to national development, as affected youths are less able to contribute meaningfully to society.

He added that the Ministry is committed to ensuring outcomes from the dialogue translate into policy action.

“The contribution of the Ministry will be to ensure that this policy, this meeting leads to a policy development that will be taken to the National Assembly,” he said.

Also speaking, Assistant Director, Drug Prevention and Sensitisation at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ndubuisi Agabus, warned about the dangerous link between mental health challenges and substance abuse among young people.

He said, “Some will resort to substance abuse to get out of the problem, not knowing that they are worsening the situation.”

Agabus noted that substance abuse often escalates mental health conditions into more severe disorders requiring intensive intervention, and called for increased investment in training mental health professionals and expanding access to care.

He further emphasised the importance of social engagement and skill acquisition in addressing mental health challenges among youths, noting that unemployment and lack of opportunities remain major triggers.

From the education sector, HOD, Special Services, FCT Secondary Education Board, Laraba Okah, described the situation as alarming, citing increasing behavioural issues among students and declining engagement with formal education.

She said, “From observation, the rise of dysfunction of young people, it’s alarming.”

Okah explained that the Board is working with stakeholders to promote counselling, therapy, and student engagement initiatives, including school clubs that provide safe spaces for students to express themselves and seek support.

Participants at the dialogue agreed that while school-based mental health clubs have shown positive impact, there is a need to scale these efforts into a structured, policy-backed national system that guarantees access for all students regardless of background.

Discussions at the event also highlighted the link between mental health challenges and broader socio-economic issues such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of access to education. Participants stressed the importance of addressing these root causes alongside policy reforms.

The event featured a policy brief presentation, panel discussions, and the launch of a Mental Health Club Manual, all aimed at strengthening advocacy and guiding implementation strategies.

Stakeholders concluded that institutionalising mental health support within schools is critical to improving educational outcomes, reducing social vices, and building a healthier, more productive youth population.