Ibadan, Nigeria: As a secondary school student in Ibadan, Nigeria, Fapohunda Jude once felt frustrated and 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 recalled.
An ‘A’ student and senior prefect, Jude had always been top of his class. The pressure of not wanting to disappoint his parents weighed heavily on him, making the failure feel like a personal disaster. He felt worthless and overwhelmed.
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 indicated that awareness of mental health amongst this group is abysmally low. And even if Jude had known where to seek help, access to mental healthcare is scarce–Africa’s largest democracy has fewer than 300 psychologists.
Jude took the exams again and passed, but despite that victory, and getting admission into the university, the shadow of his initial failure lingers. “The doubt is still there,” he admitted.
Jude is not alone. Nigeria, the seventh-largest country in the world, has Africa’s highest caseload of depression, and ranks 15th in the world in suicide rates, 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 individuals identify their triggers and offers solutions to manage them.
A New Path
Twenty-two-year-old David Olatunji used to express his struggles and life challenges through his WhatsApp status, where he shared how he overcame various obstacles. Encouraged by the positive reactions, he decided to take it a step further by hosting webinars on life challenges, inviting experts to participate.
“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.
Since its inception, the organization has reached around 400 people through various programs, using innovative approaches like hosting sessions on WhatsApp.
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. Nwachukwu 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.
He emphasised that initiatives like the FYG are crucial. “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 life-changing. These individuals go on to become support systems for others, extending the organisation’s impacts.
Fapohunda Jude, a secondary school student in Ibadan, Nigeria, faced a mental health crisis following his initial failure in an important examination, a scenario common among Nigerian youths who struggle with depression. With limited mental health support, Nigeria ranks high in global depression cases. The Foundation for Younger Generation (FYG) addresses this gap by providing a platform for young people to discuss their challenges, share experiences, and learn from each other. Founded by David Olatunji, FYG began from his personal initiative on social media and now includes webinars and events, supported by licensed therapists, to tackle issues like academic stress and societal pressure.
A UNICEF study reveals significant mental health struggles among Nigerian youths, compounded by unemployment and societal stigma. Cultural elements often discourage open conversations about mental distress, further isolating affected individuals. Initiatives like FYG play a critical role in breaking this silence, fostering community support and encouraging well-being. Despite funding challenges and limited reach, FYG empowers youths to manage mental health issues effectively, promoting the message that failure is a normal part of life, and encouraging them to support each other.