The awareness on the menace and threat of loneliness to nations and persons worldwide issued lately by the World Health Organisation (WHO) deserves more than a passing glance. Evidence abounds that the scourge may be causing more harm than imagined and therefore needs some form of redress.
The WHO Commission on Social Connection released a report aimed at raising awareness of a menacing challenge: loneliness. Sourced from decades of research, expert knowledge, and the lived experiences of people who have grappled with loneliness, the publication highlights the scope and dangers of the problem. Titled, ‘From loneliness to social connection: Charting a path to healthier societies,’ it also underlines a “fundamental” truth: if we are to thrive as individuals and nations, we must consciously work on our ability to connect with others — because we build stronger and more resilient societies only as we develop relationships and nurture trust.
The statistics on loneliness — defined as a negative, subjective emotional state resulting from a discrepancy between one’s desired and actual experiences of connection — are a reason for concern. Between 2014 and 2023, an estimated 16 per cent of the global population, equivalent to one in six people, contended with it. Although the challenge affects all ages and regions, it is reportedly prevalent among adolescents and young adults — a critical segment of society — at rates of 20.9 per cent (13–17-year-olds) and 17.4 per cent (18–29-year-olds). Additionally, low-income countries are estimated to be the most severely affected, with a prevalence rate of 24.3 per cent, followed by lower–middle–income countries, including Nigeria, at 19.3 per cent, upper–middle–income countries at 12.1 per cent, and high-income countries at 10.6 per cent.
Perchance the figures above still fail to alarm, a stunner shows that about 871,000 deaths worldwide yearly are attributable to loneliness, and this number is set to increase unless measures are taken to checkmate the trend. Social isolation and loneliness have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and poorer general physical health. Studies have also shown that loneliness or social isolation was linked to a 29 per cent increase in the risk of incident coronary heart disease and a 32 per cent increase in the risk of stroke. Evidence has also linked the conditions with increased risks and severity of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicidal ideation and self-harm. Specifically, loneliness is believed to increase the risk of dementia by 23–58 per cent and Alzheimer’s disease by 72 per cent.
With its plethora of socioeconomic predicaments, Nigeria is without doubt at the bull’s-eye of loneliness’s devastating archery. In its April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, the World Bank revealed a troubling 75.5 per cent poverty rate among Nigeria’s rural dwellers. Hard-pressed by inflation, many of these migrate to urban centres like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt in search of a living. However, this often comes at a high cost: they must leave behind key family and community support systems. Again, for many, religious communities are a core source of belonging. Amid a new wave of disenchantment with faith, especially among the youth, this disconnection could intensify feelings of loneliness. Other factors include high unemployment and underemployment, divorce, the weakening of traditional extended families, and an increase in nuclear or fragmented households, particularly in cities. Additionally, there is peer pressure and the desire to ‘belong’ in a growingly materialistic culture, as well as the impact of illness and retirement.
Paradoxically, the report emerges at a time of growing digital connectivity, prompting some researchers to argue that excessive use of social media and other online platforms undermines social connection. Notably, many social media platforms lack features that promote genuine community building and meaningful interaction, limiting users’ opportunities to engage with others. Compounding the problem is the gradual erosion of the traditional communal system, where an individual was simply a son or daughter, and all others, bound together by a duty of care, were defined as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, not uncles, nephews, nieces, and aunts.
There is a role for everyone in tackling loneliness. Authors of the report have noted that “alongside rigorous data and public health recommendations, we are also motivated by something profoundly simple: the knowledge that a smile, a kind word or a meaningful conversation can make life better. These small acts of connection are powerful tools, not just for individuals but for improving our societies.”
Individuals must consciously build social connections, engage in meaningful activities, and practise self-care to maintain their well-being. Pursuing pleasurable activities, such as sports, art, or music, learning new skills, or simply spending time outdoors, can also boost well-being. Meditation helps manage negative emotions, while positive affirmations and focusing on personal strengths can further reduce feelings of isolation. Joining hobby-based groups, volunteering, or reaching out to friends and family—even through phone calls—can help foster connection.
Non-governmental organisations must refocus and strengthen social connections through advocacy, resource mobilisation, partnership building, and influencing policy development. Communities, for their part, “can create more chances for people to connect…strengthen social infrastructure, such as libraries, parks, transport and social services, even when connection is not their primary aim. This includes designing public spaces to bring people together, ensuring fair access for all, investing in community programmes and involving communities in planning and decisions.”
At the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, the health body passed a resolution urging Member States to formally integrate social connection into their national health policies. Currently, only eight nations — the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Japan — have met this standard. Fifty-two others have varied policies, though less comprehensive. Unfortunately, Nigeria has yet to feature on either list.
As Africa’s most populous country and host to the continent’s largest economy, Nigeria must take the lead in developing both long-term and short-term policies to mitigate the challenge. Bolstered by these, the government would be better positioned to deliver data-driven social infrastructure rather than pursuing projects inspired by political expediency.
Since the World Health Organisation has taken the effort to present a comprehensive report on the global menace of loneliness, the ball now lies in the court of the Federal Government to domesticate the assessment and bridge research gaps. Nigeria has everything to gain and nothing to lose — except, of course, its dalliance with corruption and poor governance.
The World Health Organisation’s warning could not be more timely: “Without connection, we will not succeed in solving the problems facing us today – whether they are public health, economic growth or social stability…The time for complacency has passed. Now is the time to take action: now is the time to make connection a priority.”
