President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria (CICN), Dr. Tolulope Oko-Igaire, has said Nigeria needs behavioural change to achieve and unlock a renewed society for the country.

She emphasised the need for government to partner with the institute to achieve the desired result for the country.

Oko-Igaire stated this at a press conference in Lagos to announce the transition of the institute into a chartered entity at the weekend.

She said today is not just a day of celebration; it is a day of deep significance. It is the day history shifts, purpose evolves, and legacy expands. With full hearts and bold conviction, we officially transition from the Institute of Counseling in Nigeria to the Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria (CICN).

According to her, what began as a single voice crying out in a broken system has become a movement.

She said: “We have trained and certified thousands of counselors, developed groundbreaking programmes, and built a community of professionals who are restoring hope in homes, classrooms, hospitals, boardrooms, prisons, churches, and clinics across this nation and even beyond its borders.”

She said that this is not a cosmetic change; it is a shift in authority, capacity, and responsibility.

According to her, to be chartered is to be officially recognised, trusted, and empowered to uphold the highest standards in counseling and mental health. It means we are now a national benchmark, a professional body with the mandate to regulate, train, guide, and inspire.

She said it means the institute’s voice now echoes louder, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa and the world.

She noted that this is why today the institute is also unveiling its new slogan: ‘Empowering minds, unlocking professionalism,’ saying: “Because this is what we do, we empower minds to heal, grow, and lead. And we unlock professionalism in a field that for too long has been underappreciated, underregulated, and underdeveloped.”

She said to its partners, stakeholders, government collaborators, and international friends: CICN is ready to lead in research, advocacy, consulting, and certification. Let us raise the bar together and place mental health at the center of national development. CICN is your home.

“To the next generation of therapists, caregivers, and counselors: there is a place for you here. We will raise you, train you, support you, and watch you flourish,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman, Advisory Board, CICN, Dr. Kevin Donnelly, said this change is not merely symbolic; it reflects the maturity, credibility, and national relevance that the institute has achieved.

He said CICN now stands as a chartered body recognised, trusted, and empowered to lead the future of counseling and mental health in Nigeria and across Africa.

Donnelly said the new chartered status is not a reward; it is a responsibility to lead, to uphold standards, and to speak boldly for the importance of mental health and emotional well-being in the society.