The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, graced the Men’s Mental Health Conference in Ilorin, ably represented by the Chairman House Committee on Health, Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi Adato on 31st July 2025.
The event, which included a road walk in Ilorin, the capital city, and a conference at the Banquet Hall, was organized under the auspices of Peace, Progress, and Unity Global Initiative by Amb. Dr. Prevail Farida O. Ahmed, FCPA, DFILMMD-UK (Eshet Chayil), a distinguished Kwaran, Peace and Youth Ambassador, and public speaker of note.
The event featured a keynote address, panel discussion, and technical paper presentations by leading experts in psychiatry, clinical psychology, and behavioural science. Awards of recognition were also presented to deserving individuals and organizations in the state for their exemplary and impactful service. The keynote address was delivered by the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD.
Amb. Dr. Prevail Farida, who is the convener, seeks to break the cycle of silence on issues around mental health awareness and support for men and women of the various security agencies who are doing their job to keep our society safe. The conference provided the right platform to address the urgent need for psychological well-being, mental health awareness, and emotional support for security personnel in Kwara State.
The Special Guest of Honour was Rt. Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi. He was ably represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi, who delivered the goodwill message at the event. The Speaker harped on the legislative commitment of the Kwara 10th Assembly to ensure the total well-being of all citizens, including the mental health of our security personnel.
The Speaker commended Amb. Dr. Prevail Farida Ahmed for her initiative but expressed concern that the platform provided by the convener through the conference should not just be a passing event without any actionable plan to institutionalize support for mental health awareness through an effective policy and legislative framework. The Speaker emphasized the commitment of the State Assembly to continue to engage proactively and support any laudable initiatives like the one from Amb. Dr. Prevail Farida.
The Speaker also asserted that the Federal and Kwara State Governments are investing in improving the working conditions of security agencies and that the government is committed to prioritizing their overall well-being. However, it is important that men speak up and seek help when necessary, particularly relating to their mental health. Security agencies namely: Police, NSCDC, Armed Forces, DSS, EFCC, Correctional Service, Immigration, and Customs — fully participated in the conference.
Some of the top government functionaries who attended the conference include the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Olubukola Babalola; Counsellor to the Governor, Alhaji Saadu Salaudeen; Special Adviser on Special Duties, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah; and Special Adviser on Drug Control, Hon. Mikhail Aileru. Also, the custodians of the traditional institution and religious leaders, as critical stakeholders in the society, were in attendance. A large contingent of members from various sectors of the road transport associations, including NURTW, RTEAN, and the tricycle/motorcycle union, joined the conference.
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