SECURE-D-FUTURE FOUNDATION HOLDS 4TH ANNUAL COUNSELOR'S SUMMIT IN ABUJA .... Calls For Awareness, Advocacy In Schools, Communities
In pursuit of a stable and healthy society especially as it concerns mental healthcare for Nigerians, considering prevailing challenges the citizenry are forced to contend with, the Secure-D-Future International Initiative; a Non-Governmental Organization has held its 4th Annual Counselors Summit and the unveiling of the Mental Health Guideline framework.
The Two-Day event, opened on 7 May, 2025 at the Auditorium of the Government Secondary School, Garki Abuja and had participants from schools, communities, partners and stakeholders from across the country.
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Dr. Sada'atu Adamu |
Founder of the Secure-D-Future Foundation International Initiative, SDF, Dr. Sada’atu Adamu disclosed that in trying to address the issues bordering on mental health and counseling in the society, particularly as it relates to schools. She revealed that the SDF initiated the establishment of mental health clubs in the various schools where it caters for individuals; especially students that are struggling with mental health and challenges, so that they can get used to it, enjoy their space and in the same vein, equip themselves on how to provide support to others.
Speaking on this year’s summit and its conference, Dr Sada’atu Adamu revealed that these are annual events, which the SDF organizes.
“In this year’s episode, we decided to have a “Counseling Frame Work” as a tool to also support mental health issues as it is our belief that some of the mental health issues and psychotherapy in counseling would be easy to tackle.
She noted that not all mental health issues that require medication, psychiatric hospitals and all sorts. “Counseling”, according to her, “is one of the major things that we have to look at and also, integrate into the mental health frame work. One cannot do much as it concerns mental health without counseling.”
“The SDF has rehabilitation centres where it caters for people struggling with drug use/abuse. SDF also has an institution where we train professionals on the basic tools and techniques on how to support people with mental health. What you are seeing today, is part of what we bring onboard as an organization”.
Reacting to questions on how the SDF is working alongside its partners and collaborators to address “bullying in schools”, for which the Minister of Education recently inaugurated a committee on Bullying in Schools, Dr Adamu disclosed that the SDF has been working with the Secondary Education Board on the policy. “We are also part of the consultants that supported them through the training on “Understanding the Impact of Mental Health around Bullying”.
“We have been working with SEB to see that we don’t just work around the space (schools) but that we also take it to the grassroots. We also ensure that communities are part of the conversation and in the same vein make sure that parents get involved. You cannot have a document and simply assume that it is just for your child without having knowledge of what it contains. The policy is for everyone and we all have to look at it together.” she stated.
Speaking on the issue of challenges encountered by the SDF in all of these, the Founder of the SDF revealed that, “One of the major challenges has been funding. It is indeed a challenge, as we all know. When you have more money, you will be able to do much more. However, I believe that collaboration and partnership helps in dealing with those things we see as challenging; funding.
“Another of the things we see as challenging is trying to work together in the space of mental health and counseling. We have to try to understand the power of collaboration and partnership. It is a major challenge people must strive to understand. Partnership is a major prerequisite for funding and will make it easier for everyone.”
Responding to questions as to the likely causes of mental health issues and its attendant challenges, Sada’atu Adamu stressed that many issues give birth to mental health challenges, ranging from economy, biological, dysfunctional families and environmental which a major factor.
“There are a whole lot of things responsible for why people do what they do. A typical example is Nigeria. It is a serious situation as the people are struggling. There is serious hunger in the country and economically, we are dealing with issues and it is enough to give anyone mental health issues. We must continue to create awareness and advocating on this topic,” she appealed.
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Prof Malami Umar Tambawal |
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the Shehu Shagari University of Education Sokoto, Professor Malami Umar Tambawal noted that addressing the issue of mental health requires the collective of all, including the government, as there is a climb from mental issue to addiction and then, crime.
“We have to make it a policy if we want to be serious. This is why we are coming up with the mental health policy framework so that with this document, the issue of mental health can be redressed in all of our educational levels.”
Fielding questions from journalists on the sidelines of the Summit, Professor Malami Tambawal, disclosed that the Association is working tirelessly through our various schools counselors to see that the issue of mental health in the country gets the attention it deserves.
He further disclosed that the Association has been having conferences and seminars on issues of mental health but presently, “we want to go down the grassroots levels and visit various secondary schools, tertiary institutions to address individuals with this mental health issue”.
“There are issues relating to mental health everywhere in the society today especially with the economic situation in the country as it has also affected our cultural disposition, which has changed. Relationships, partnerships have equally changed across board and this are all mental issues.
“We have to make it a policy if we want to be serious. This is why the Association is coming up with the mental health policy framework so that with this document, the issue can receive the desires attention in all of our educational levels,” he stated.
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He opined that the economic challenges today can make people become mentally sick, pointing out that the weather and political problems today can also make people become mentally sick.
“The society has to re-orient towards thinking right. The Association remains committed towards the implementation of this policy and had pursued an Act from the National Assembly that was given approval to, which the former President, Muhammadu Buhari gave his Assent. The Council had its inauguration last month by the Minister of Education and gave the legal backing to start working towards resolving mental health issues in the country,” he stated.
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Chinaemerem Iwuanyanwu |
Country Director of the SDF, Chinaemerem Iwuanyanwu, in a chat with the media, disclosed that this fourth annual counseling summit is a gathering of school counselors, private practitioners, private workers including policy makers who have come together in order to upscale themselves, and have conversations that border on the practice and the services that the association offers.
The Country Director who noted that the key highlight of the event is the unveiling of the Guide on “effective mental health counseling”: bridging the mental health gap in Nigeria, further revealed that the production of the book was the work of a number of professors and doctors; professionals in mental health. “The idea behind it is for every social worker and counselor including policy makers to have that required understanding on; what do I need to do, as a counselor. Our findings and interactions in schools show that some people do not pay adequate attention to issues relating to mental health as they focus more on ‘career counseling’. There is no way that you can separate mental health from career counseling. There is no child with mental health issue that can do well academically. This is a fact.” She emphasized.
According to her, “The Association, in partnership with the Secondary Education Board, SEB (and with particular reference to the FCT Education Board) including the Counseling Association of Nigeria been trying to develop a lot of capacity building programmes to bring them up-speed. The purpose is to make them understand that counseling is good but one must pay attention to the mental health of these children.
‘With this guide we have developed, as a school guidance counselor, they are now well equipped as to what is expected of them,” she stated.
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