Chiahanam Nwobodo from the University of Nigeria has emerged winner of the 2023 Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay (JAME) competition.
Ridwan Oladimeji Sulayman from the University of Ilorin and Oluwagbemisola Akinjobi, from the University of Ibadan, emerged as first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.
The trio received prizes of ₦200,000; ₦150,000 and ₦100,000, respectively, at its third edition of the Award and Special Investiture Ceremony at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan recently, in honour of Miss Abubakar, the organisation’s pioneer program manager, who passed away in July 2020 after a brief illness.
Speaking at the event, the founder/ CEO, Asido Foundation, Jibril Abdulmalik, expressed optimism that mental health awareness would continue to grow. He urged Nigerians to show empathy, love, and understanding towards individuals and families affected by mental health issues, despite the pervasive shame, stigma, and discrimination that exist in our society. “Let us continue to support mental health awareness,” he stated.
The JAME competition is an essay competition centred on a topical mental health issue, organised annually by the Asido Foundation for undergraduate students of Nigerian tertiary institutions. The competition supports youth mental health capacity building, which is intended to improve Nigerian youths’ mental health awareness and knowledge.
The 2023 Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay (JAME) competition received an impressive number of entries from various tertiary institutions across all thirty-six Nigerian states. Almost two thousand (2000) entries were received, making the competition one of the largest of its kind in the country.
According to Jibril Abdulmalik:
“The top 15 entries will also benefit from a one-year mentorship program to help them become mental health advocates. This program will equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to create a positive impact on mental health awareness and advocacy in Nigeria.”
