In Nigeria, conversations about mental health were not always easy to have. For many years, they were avoided altogether, whispered about in private, or hidden behind stigma and misunderstanding. Today, however, those conversations are slowly becoming part of the national discourse. Families are speaking more openly about emotional well-being. Young people are learning to recognise distress rather than dismiss it. Policymakers are beginning to acknowledge that mental health must occupy a serious place in public health policy.

Behind this gradual but important shift stands the quiet persistence of individuals who chose, early on, to challenge silence with knowledge and compassion. Among them is Professor Jibril Abdulmalik, whose life and work have helped move mental health advocacy in Nigeria from the margins toward the mainstream. As he marks his 50th birthday on 16 March 2026, it offers a moment to reflect on a journey defined by a steadfast commitment to changing how society understands and responds to mental health.

My own journey with this mission began even before the Asido Foundation formally existed. I remember clearly when Jibril first approached me to share his vision for what would eventually become Asido. He spoke passionately about the need for a platform that would confront stigma, promote public understanding, and advocate for better mental health systems in Nigeria. From the very beginning, I was enthusiastic about the idea. It resonated strongly with my long-held belief that societal transformation requires courageous advocacy and institutions that place human dignity at the centre of their work.
I was therefore honoured to support the vision from its earliest stages, serving as the Foundation’s Vice Chairman at its formative stage and continuing in that role until I was later entrusted with the responsibility of serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Watching the organisation grow from a simple but powerful idea into a respected national voice has been both humbling and deeply gratifying.

At fifty, Abdulmalik’s journey tells the story of a physician who refused to see mental illness as a hidden problem to be managed quietly behind hospital walls. Instead, he saw it as a societal challenge requiring public conversation, policy reform, and sustained community engagement.

When he was appointed Professor of Psychiatry and Global Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, effective October 1, 2021, the appointment recognised more than academic distinction. It reflected decades of dedication to a field that demands not only scientific rigour but also patience, empathy, and courage.
Over the years, his work has extended far beyond the consulting room. At the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital, he has trained generations of psychiatrists, physicians, and public health professionals who now carry his influence into hospitals, universities, and health systems across Nigeria and beyond. In that way, the reach of his work continues to multiply through the lives of those he has mentored.

Yet it was his decision to step beyond academia into public advocacy that would define the broader arc of his contribution.

The Asido Foundation: A Vision That Became a Movement

When the Asido Foundation was established, mental health advocacy in Nigeria occupied only a small corner of the national conversation. Organisations focused on sustained public education and community engagement in this field were few, and stigma remained deeply entrenched.

What began as a modest effort has since evolved into one of the country’s most respected platforms for mental health advocacy. Through public engagement, educational programmes, and partnerships across sectors, the Foundation has helped bring mental health discussions into classrooms, communities, media platforms, and policy spaces where they were once largely absent.

Perhaps the most poignant illustration of this work is Project Hope, an initiative that focuses on homeless individuals living with severe mental illness. Through the programme, people who would otherwise remain abandoned on the streets are identified, treated, rehabilitated, and supported in their journey back toward stability and dignity. Behind each intervention lies a powerful reminder that mental illness is not a life sentence when compassionate systems exist to respond.

The Foundation’s work with young people has been equally influential. Through initiatives such as the Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay Competition, university students across Nigeria are invited to engage thoughtfully with questions surrounding mental health and social responsibility. By encouraging these conversations early, the initiative is helping to nurture a generation that approaches mental wellbeing with openness rather than stigma.

Over time, the impact of these efforts has begun to attract recognition beyond Nigeria’s borders. Among the honours received is the ACAMH UK Award for Innovation in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries, recognising the Foundation’s creative contributions to mental health advocacy in challenging environments. The University of Ibadan has also honoured the Asido student chapter as the Most Outstanding Student Association, reflecting the enthusiasm with which young Nigerians have embraced the mission. In addition, the Lagos State Government has formally commended Abdulmalik for his enduring leadership in advancing mental health awareness.

Yet the achievements of Asido cannot be attributed to one individual alone. They reflect the dedication of an extraordinary team of staff, volunteers, coordinators, partners, and supporters who have invested their energy, time, and passion in advancing the cause of mental health advocacy. Their collective commitment has helped transform an idea into a movement that continues to expand its reach and impact.

The Board of Trustees has also played a vital role in providing guidance, stewardship, and institutional stability as the Foundation has grown. I remain deeply grateful to my fellow trustees whose wisdom, commitment, and belief in the mission have helped sustain the organisation through its journey.

An important dimension of this advocacy has been the push to reform laws that inadvertently deepen the suffering of people experiencing mental health crises. Recognising the urgency of suicide prevention, the Asido Foundation has continued to advocate for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria. In this regard, I had the privilege of leading a delegation of the Foundation, alongside Professor Abdulmalik, on an advocacy visit to the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to encourage progress toward removing attempted suicide from the country’s criminal statutes. This effort forms part of the broader movement that has already led to a historic milestone in 2023 with the signing of Nigeria’s new Mental Health Act, replacing the colonial era Lunacy Law of 1958 and advancing a more compassionate, rights-based framework for mental health care.

His influence has also extended across the West African region. As a Mental Health Consultant to the West African Health Organisation, he contributed to the development of the Strategic Mental Health Plan for 2018 to 2025, helping guide governments across the region in strengthening mental health systems that had long been neglected.

Public education has remained central to his mission. Since 2016 he has written a weekly column in the Nigerian Tribune titled Your Mental Health and You, translating complex psychiatric ideas into language accessible to everyday readers. Many of these reflections were later compiled into his book Optimal Mental Health: An Everyday Guide, which continues to serve as a practical resource for individuals seeking to better understand their emotional well-being.

At fifty, the imprint of Abdulmalik’s work can be seen in laws reformed, institutions strengthened, students mentored, and public attitudes gradually transformed.

But perhaps the most meaningful measure of his contribution lies in the countless individuals who now feel less alone in their struggles because someone chose to speak openly about mental health when it was still uncomfortable to do so.
Through the institutions he has built and the people he has inspired, Jibril Abdulmalik has ensured that the journey toward better mental health care in Nigeria will continue long beyond any single milestone.

As he marks his fiftieth birthday, we celebrate not merely the passage of time but the enduring impact of a life devoted to compassion, knowledge, and the quiet determination to make society kinder to those who suffer in silence.

Meka Niyi Olowola, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Asido Foundation, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.