The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, will lead policymakers, medical professionals and other stakeholders at the fourth Vanguard Mental Health Summit in Lagos on October 9, 2026, as discussions focus on youth mental health, digital technology, substance use and access to care.
The summit, scheduled to take place at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, will examine how social media, online pressure, addiction and other challenges are affecting the wellbeing of young Nigerians, while exploring practical ways to improve prevention, early intervention and treatment.
Mohammed will serve as chairman of the summit, bringing a public safety perspective to conversations about mental health, particularly the links between substance use, trauma, risky behaviour and the safety of young people.
Social Media and Technology Take Centre Stage
A major focus of the summit will be the impact of digital technology on young people’s psychological and emotional wellbeing.
Participants are expected to discuss challenges such as cyberbullying, online misinformation, social comparison, digital addiction, isolation and the pressure associated with maintaining a social media presence.
The discussions will also consider the responsibilities of technology platforms, families, schools and communities in creating safer digital environments and helping young people navigate online spaces.
Beyond technology, the summit will address stigma, barriers to mental healthcare, substance use, rehabilitation and recovery, with emphasis on making professional support more accessible to young Nigerians.
Health and Government Leaders Expected at the Event
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, will serve as chief host, while the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa, are expected as special guests of honour.
The gathering will bring together government officials, psychiatrists, medical professionals, academics, civil society organisations, development partners, private sector representatives, youth groups and media practitioners.
Their discussions are expected to explore how institutions can work together to strengthen mental health services and develop more effective responses to the challenges facing young people.
Keynote Speakers to Address Mental Health and Addiction
The President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, Dr Veronica Nyamali, will deliver the keynote address titled “Advancing Youth Mental Health in Nigeria.”
Other presentations will address addiction treatment, social support and the protection of young people in an increasingly connected society.
Dr Daniel Ikpechukwu, a substance abuse and behavioural health counsellor and clinical evaluator based in Georgia, United States, will deliver a virtual presentation on “Youth Drug Addiction and the Justice System: Advancing Treatment, Rehabilitation and Recovery in Nigeria.”
Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, Continental Representative for LifeLine International, will speak on “Mental Health As Our Social Capital,” while Professor Mashudat Bello-Mojeed, a professor of psychiatry and public health, will deliver a lecture titled “Protecting Young Minds in the Age of Social Media.”
Dr Oluwafemi Oluwatayo, Chief Executive Officer of The Retreat Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos, is also scheduled to give a presentation and demonstration on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a treatment used for certain mental health conditions, including depression.
Panel to Examine Who Is Responsible for Youth Mental Health
One of the summit’s central sessions will focus on the question: “Who is responsible for the Mental Health of Young People?”
The discussion will be moderated by Dr Ayantunde Ayankola, a senior consultant addiction psychiatrist at the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
The panel is expected to examine how responsibility for youth mental health should be shared among families, schools, communities, healthcare providers, government institutions, the media, technology companies and young people themselves.
A performance by the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts at Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) will also feature at the event.
From Suicide Prevention to Youth Mental Health
The fourth edition builds on the third Vanguard Mental Health Summit, held in 2025, which focused on suicide prevention and the need to strengthen mental health support and care in Nigeria.
The latest edition expands the conversation to include the particular challenges facing young people in a digital society.
The summit also comes amid renewed attention to Nigeria’s legal approach to attempted suicide. The source report states that the Federal Government announced in September 2026 that it had begun the process of removing criminal penalties for attempted suicide following Federal Executive Council approval.
The development forms part of a wider discussion about how mental health challenges should be addressed through prevention, treatment and support.
Why the Summit Matters
For young Nigerians facing emotional distress, addiction, online harassment or other mental health challenges, access to timely and appropriate support remains an important issue.
The summit’s emphasis on early intervention, supportive families and schools, safer digital spaces and improved access to care reflects the need to move beyond public awareness campaigns towards practical responses.
Its significance will ultimately depend on whether the discussions lead to concrete measures, stronger support systems and improved access to mental healthcare.
What to expect next: The October 9 gathering is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to youth mental health, including prevention, early identification, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery.
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