Nigerian Government Urged to Prioritize Mental Health of Workforce
By Kaosara Olayemi Oladimeji
A renowned psychiatry expert, Professor P.O. Ajiboye, has called on the Nigerian government to make the mental health of its workforce a priority.
This appeal was made during the commemoration of World Mental Health Day at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo-Egba, Kwara State, in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs in Kwara.
Professor Ajiboye emphasized that a significant portion of the global population spends nearly 60% of their lives in the workplace, highlighting the importance of a secure and healthy work environment in influencing mental well-being.
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He also stressed that neglecting mental health in the workplace can have severe consequences, including an estimated 12 billion working days lost annually to depression and anxiety, resulting in a global economic loss of $1 trillion per year due to decreased productivity.
The event, which marked the institution’s third consecutive participation in the global event, was attended by numerous stakeholders from both the private and public sectors in Kwara.
These stakeholders pledged to utilize their platforms to promote mental health awareness among their staff, while media organizations committed to intensifying advocacy efforts on the importance of mental wellness.
Professor Baba Awoye Issa, Medical Director of the hosting institution, reiterated the facility’s commitment to providing quality mental healthcare services to the people of the country, particularly the residents of Kwara State and the five neighboring states primarily served by the institution.
The event garnered the presence of several notable organizations and representatives, including Fidson Pharmaceutical Company, Micro Nova Pharmaceutical Limited, and Aquativ Pharmaceutical.
Also in attendance were the Provost of UITH School Complex, represented by Mrs. Bola Abdur-Rahman, Deputy Director of Nursing; Al-Hikmah University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Noah Yusuf represented by Dr. Jamila Yusuf and Dr. Buhari Folarin; Mr. Micheal Olanrewaju, General Manager of Diamond 88.7 FM, Ilorin; Rotary Club members in Kwara State; the Counseling Association of Nigeria; Jaiz Bank; and Aisha Buhari Children and Women Hospital, Eiyenkorin; and General Hospital Afon, among others.
