Ibadan, Nigeria: As a secondary school student in Ibadan, Nigeria, Fapohunda Jude was once frustrated and felt dejected. “It all started when I wrote my first West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) …and I did not get a good result,” he said.
Jude felt worthless and like a disappointment; An ‘A’ student and a senior prefect, he burgled under the pressure of not wanting to disappoint his parents.
Jude did not seek help. He did not know that what he was going through had a name, nor that he could get help. A survey of 285 teenagers showed that awareness of mental health amongst teenagers was abysmally low. And even if Jude knew he could seek help-access to mental healthcare is nearly non-existent, with fewer than 300 psychologists across Africa’s largest democracy.
Jude took the exams again and passed, but despite that victory, and getting admission into the university, Jude still feels stuck in the person that wrote and failed that first exam. “The doubt is still there,” Jude confessed.
Jude is not alone; The seventh-largest country in the world, Nigeria has Africa’s highest caseload of depression, and ranks 15th in the world in the frequency of suicide, according to WHO.
But one organization, The Foundation for Younger Generation or FYG, a youth-led non-governmental organization, is working with young boys like Jude to to address the mental health crisis by giving them a platform to talk about their issues, listening to their peers, and hearing solutions being offered. The group, helps them identify the trigger for what happens to them, so they can avoid it.
A new better
22-year old David Olatunji always used his Whatsapp status to talk about life challenges, often, he would share his struggles and what he did to overcome them. Seeing a lot of positive reaction, he moved that to a webinar, where he brings experts, and has people interested just talk about what is bothering them.
“I hosted several editions on different topics and the review was satisfactory because people see it as an avenue to learn, relearn and unlearn,” Olatunji said. The success of the webinars and the impact of it “gave me the strength of dreaming bigger and that is why I remodeled the whole movement to Foundation for Younger Generation.”
Still studying for his degree, Olatunji said the impact of FYG on his immediate community is his inspiration and that the organization’s mission is to illuminate and enlighten the younger generation on how they can wade off mental exertions that come from social problems such as: relationships, online trolling, academic stress, leadership deficiency, and an uncertain future, by affording them a platform for them to vent, listen to others vent, and hear solutions.
With its 15 young volunteers, the organization holds events, both physical and virtual, where attendees hear and learn from the experience of other young persons. The idea, according to Olantunji, is so that these young persons can understand that they are not alone in their struggles, and learn how speakers overcame their struggle and found strength.
FYG also brings on licensed mental health therapists, to provide professional guidance when need be.
The organization has also deployed innovative ways of reaching their target audience, by holding sessions on Whatsapp. Since inception, they have reached about 400 people with their message.
Talking helps
A study by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) revealed that one in six Nigerians aged 15 to 24 often feel depressed, lose interest in activities, or experience anxiety and nervousness. The study also found that 85% of young individuals feel more pressure to succeed than older generations. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that less than 10% of Nigerians with mental health issues have access to the care they need.
For many young people, the lack of a platform to discuss their challenges only worsens their situation.
Okoli Chigozie Nwachukwu, a licensed mental health therapist agrees. He attributes the rise in mental illness among young Nigerians to factors such as unemployment, academic stress, and the stigma surrounding mental health discussions. He also explained that cultural tendencies to downplay emotional distress, combined with the lack of accessible mental health services, cause many young individuals to internalize their struggles. “Despite these challenges, open conversations about mental health remain limited,” he said.
Nwachukwu emphasized that initiatives like those run by the FYG are vital. “They break the silence around mental health, fostering understanding, education, and community support,” he explained. Such platforms empower young people to seek help, understand the importance of well-being, and realize they are not alone in their struggles. “They are essential steps toward healthier futures for Nigeria’s youth.”
However, despite its impact, FYG faces challenges. A lack of funding limits the reach of its programs, and efforts to expand to campuses across the country by appointing volunteer ambassadors have struggled due to low participation.
Yet, for young people like Jude, whom the organization has helped by showing them that “failure is inevitable—we will all fail at some points in our life,” FYG’s work is invaluable. These individuals go on to become support systems for others, extending the impact of FYG’s efforts.
