An important discourse on mental health is set to take center stage on July 2, 2025, as the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN-BOF) convenes its 7th Public Lecture at the Festival Hotel (formerly Golden Tulip) in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State. Themed “Mental Health: A Basic Human Right Crucial to Personal, Community and Socio-Economic Development,” the event aims to elucidate the necessity of acknowledging mental health as an integral component of human rights.

The Chair of the occasion will be Mudashiru Obasa, the Honorable Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. His involvement underscores the significance of governmental support in championing mental health initiatives within the state. Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, a distinguished Consultant Psychiatrist and Managerial Psychologist, will deliver the keynote address, bringing a wealth of knowledge from her role as CEO of Realmed Consulting Services.

The panel will feature a robust lineup of experts committed to addressing the mental health crisis in Nigeria. Among them is Commander Abubakar Liman Wali, the Lagos State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who will provide insights into the intersection of mental health and substance abuse. Dr. Lucas B. Koyejo, the Director/Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission in Lagos State, will discuss the implications of mental health on human rights advocacy.

Joining the discourse are Pharm. (Mrs.) Veronica Modupe Okugbeni, a Consultant Clinical Pharmacist from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, who will provide a clinical perspective, and Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, President of the PSN, serving as the Chief Host. The National Chairman of the Board of Fellows, Pharm. Uchenna U. Apakama, will host the event, while Pharm. (Prince) Gbenga Falabi leads the Central Planning Committee.

This public lecture aims not only to raise awareness about mental health as a critical human right but also to initiate actionable recommendations for improving mental health services across Nigeria. With the pervasive stigma and lack of adequate resources affecting countless individuals, this gathering intends to galvanize stakeholders from various sectors—including healthcare, government, and civil society—to commit to meaningful change.

As global awareness of mental health issues grows, this event takes on heightened significance in the current socio-economic landscape, where the mental well-being of individuals can no longer be sidelined. Attendees are expected to engage in vigorous discussions that seek to influence policy and encourage community action to enhance mental health care provisions throughout Nigeria.

The lecture will take place from 10:00am to 2:00pm, providing a platform for a multi-faceted exploration of mental health as a cornerstone for personal, community, and socio-economic development. This event promises to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle to integrate mental health into the broader human rights dialogue in Nigeria.