In a time when the complexities of mental health, youth vulnerability, and institutional failures increasingly weigh on societies, Sa’adatu Adamu has emerged as a defining voice of resilience, reform, and responsible leadership. With a career spanning over two decades, she has built a legacy that fuses public service, advocacy, and enterprise into a powerful platform for change, one that is quietly but steadily shaping lives across Nigeria and beyond.
Her journey began in client services as a Zonal Coordinator with NAFDAC Green Pages in Abuja, where from 2004 to 2014 she contributed significantly to business development, public awareness, and the listing of over a thousand NAFDAC-registered products. Her early role laid the foundation for a values-driven career committed to systems improvement and measurable impact.
From 2014 to 2022, she served as CEO of Maisa Legado Limited, where she demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership by growing the business, securing key partnerships, and organising professional development programs that trained over 500 government workers. Her approach to leadership combined profitability with people development, offering a blueprint for how private sector leadership can serve the public good.
In 2018, Sa’adatu founded the Secure the Future International Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health, youth empowerment, and sustainable community development. Under her direction, the organisation established school mental health clubs, hosted national conferences, and directly rehabilitated over 600 individuals. Her outreach programs have benefited more than 40,000 youths across Nigeria, while promoting awareness, empathy, and action on mental wellness.
Since 2023, she has served as President of the Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Research Institute (PCRI) in Abuja, where she oversees a team of more than 40 professionals. Through this platform, she has driven long-term strategic goals, unified program objectives, and led the development of curricula for counselling professionals across the country.
Sa’adatu’s work extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders. As Vice Chairperson of the Counseling Association of Nigeria’s FCT Chapter, Regional Director for West Africa at the Africa Mental Health Reforms Organization, Chairperson of the Social Affairs and Health Committee for the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, and President of African Women in Non-Governmental Organizations (AWINGO), she has built international bridges for mental health policy, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Her affiliations with global institutions such as the American Counselling Association, ISSUP, and the Global Mental Health Action Network underscore her influence on the global stage. She has represented Nigeria at policy summits in Ghana, hosted international conferences, and continues to advocate for the mental well-being of African communities in the context of global development.
Academically, Sa’adatu is pursuing a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling at Nasarawa State University, where she also earned her master’s degree. Her training includes a PGDE in Education (Guidance and Counselling), a Human Resource Management certification from UNICAF University in Cyprus, a Bachelor of Technology from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and a diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Jos. Her academic foundation has enabled her to effectively blend psychology, communication, and education in the service of systemic change.
Her impact is both institutional and grassroots. She has led the rehabilitation of hundreds of individuals through counselling, established the first mental health school club in Nigeria, developed a national counselling guide in collaboration with the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, and raised over ₦40 million for Secure the Future’s programs. She launched the mindDR app to digitise access to mental health services, organised Nigeria’s first Mental Health Symposium under the AU Agenda 2063, and produced educational campaigns against gender-based violence. Through these efforts, she has established a nationwide reputation as a trusted voice in policy advocacy and civic leadership.
In recognition of her contributions, she has received numerous honours, including Ambassador for Peace, Mental Health Advocate of the Year, Social Impact Health Coach of the Year, and Icon of Women Development. In 2024, she was named among the 100 Most Notable Women in Africa. She is a Fellow of the National Institute of Credit Administration and the Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development, and holds an honorary doctorate from the American Management University.
Sa’adatu Adamu continues to prove that leadership is not defined by position, but by the courage to serve, the capacity to uplift others, and the clarity of purpose in building something that lasts. Whether mentoring young people, coordinating national dialogues, or advocating for equity in public health, she remains a tireless force for good, anchored in humility, driven by data, and committed to a future where every life counts.
