A Professor of Counselling Psychology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Fidel Okopi, has advocated that psychological counselling should not be confined to schools and offices, insisting that it is a serious requirement in everyday life.

Okopi, a staff member of NOUN’s Faculty of Education, stated this while delivering his
inaugural lecture titled: “From heart to heart: Integrating psycho-social counselling into daily life to build a harmonious Nigeria.

“Psycho-social counselling matters in our everyday life because it is shaped by emotions, relationships, and life contexts. it promotes self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, and meaningful connections, helping one to heal, grow, and live with purpose in everyday life.”

He noted that counselling is often seen as something reserved for clinics, offices, or professionals, while its true essence lies in human connection.

Elaborating, he said: “You do not need to be a therapist to listen deeply to someone’s pain, help a child to manage emotions, guide a young person in making good decisions, resolve conflict with empathy, encourage resilience during tough times or create safe spaces where people feel heard, respected, and supported.”

The professor advised that counselling should begin at home, adding, “Home is our first place of learning, care, and belonging.”

It can either nurture well-being or breed tension.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, revealed that NOUN has the largest number of counsellors in any university in Nigeria, due to the high regard the institution holds for its counsellors.