Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Nutrition in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi, has reiterated the commitment of the legislature to the domestication of the National Mental Health Act 2021 in the state.

This was part of efforts to strengthen mental healthcare delivery and policy implementation.

Ogunniyi made the commitment on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 while participating in a Mental Health Summit held at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo Egba, in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The summit, which brought together mental health practitioners, consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, community leaders, social workers and legal practitioners, was organised by Healthy Minds Initiatives and sponsored by a United Kingdom-based psychiatrist, Dr. Simeon Y.D. Ategbese, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Minds.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor A.B. Makanjuola, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), examined the evolution of mental healthcare in Nigeria in a presentation titled, “Mental Health Practice in Nigeria: The Past, The Present, and The Future.”

The event also featured a panel discussion on the prospects and challenges of the National Mental Health Act 2021, with participants exploring issues surrounding its implementation and the need for its domestication at the state level.

The panel included Ogunniyi, legal practitioner Barrister Agboola Omonile, and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), Dr. M.O. Salihu.

Speaking during the session, Ogunniyi highlighted Kwara State Government’s leadership role in promoting mental health advocacy and awareness.

He noted that the state has consistently pursued partnerships and collaborations with relevant stakeholders and non-governmental organisations to improve mental health education and support services.

According to him, the state government has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing policies that address mental health challenges and reduce the burden of mental illnesses among residents.

The lawmaker further assured stakeholders that the Kwara State House of Assembly would continue to support legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening mental healthcare, including the domestication of the National Mental Health Act.

While acknowledging the challenge posed by the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals across the country, Ogunniyi said Kwara possesses significant advantages in mental healthcare infrastructure, citing the presence of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo Egba, UITH and KWASUTH.

He said these institutions place the state in a strategic position to emerge as a major hub for mental health treatment and research in Nigeria.

Ogunniyi also called for collective action in addressing mental health issues, stressing the importance of early detection of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.

He urged residents to shun the stigmatization and labeling of individuals battling mental health conditions, while advocating the restoration of family values and responsible parenting as critical measures in protecting young people from drug and substance abuse.

The summit underscored the growing recognition of mental health as a critical component of public health and highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare professionals and community stakeholders to improve access to quality mental healthcare services in Nigeria.