Get Guardian on GoogleIn many Nigerian homes and schools, mental health is still talked about in hushed tones. However, it’s an integral part of being human, especially among adolescents, who are learning how to manage their emotions, identities, and relationships with family and peers. Adolescents make up nearly a fifth of Nigeria’s population and the habits and skills that they build during this phase can greatly influence their risk of mental disorders later in life. The Empowered Project (TEP), designed by Dr Deborah Adedibu and her team, was created to equip adolescents with healthy life skills and coping mechanisms that build resilience, as well as identify and connect those who need a specialist.
The flagship edition of the project, which started in 2024, trained 10 teachers and established health clubs across five government schools in Oyo State reaching over 850 students with mental health education and support. Students who participated in the health clubs had individual workbooks to personalise their learnings and experiences. The health clubs facilitated by the teachers were very practical and interactive and often used role playing and games to make learning fun. A crisis-response protocol, with names of mental health organisations and clinics, was also shared with each school.
TEP was funded by the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative, a highly competitive US Consulate programme that brings together exceptional leaders who are making an impact in their fields across Nigeria. The goal of the project was to build a safe space for adolescents to learn about their mental health and support one another, by leveraging relationships and resources already established within their schools and communities. Adedibu led her team including Mary Akinwola, Oluwayemisi Olaoluwa, and Covenant Odedele to partner with the government and schools to bring this to life.
Among the participants, there was a record of 84 per cent increase in their use of healthy coping strategies and a 78 per cent improvement in how they understood and talked about mental health. Mrs Oyedeji, a teacher and facilitator in one of the schools, said “The club brought me closer to my students. It helped me understand them better and gave me the tools to actually support them”. A student credited the club with helping her cope during a family health crisis, saying she had learned to manage her stress and stay focused on her studies as a result.
TEP now under Aces Africa, a youth-led organization committed towards achieving a healthier, thriving Africa, has grown its reach to more schools and states, reaching 2000+ adolescents.
“Adolescents are at a critical stage where they need all the support they can get, especially as they navigate relationships with family and peers, and as their identities and beliefs form in ways that will shape their future and society at large,” Adedibu said. “My goal is to help them grow into healthy adults, for the benefit of their own future, their families, and society.”
