General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, on Wednesday, welcomed a delegation from the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) led by its Executive Director, Mr. Abiodun Oguntola during a courtesy visit to the Agency at Alausa, Ikeja.
Addressing the delegation, Oyetunde-Lawal reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to prioritising the well-being of individuals with disabilities and expressed eagerness to collaborate with an organisation dedicated to combating mental health stigma in the state.
Highlighting the agency’s open-door policy, she emphasised its readiness to partner with relevant stakeholders while underscoring its dedication to inclusivity.
The Executive Director and leader of the visiting delegation, Mr. Abiodun Oguntola outlined the role of MANI as Nigeria’s largest youth-run mental health organisation, offering counselling services and organising training programmes for schools, communities, and workplaces.
He further emphasised MANI’s strategy of early intervention in schools, aiming to educate students across all educational levels and engage their parents, teachers, and communities in fostering a supportive environment for mental health discussions.
According to him, the partnership between LASODA and MANI signifies a concerted effort to promote mental health awareness and combat stigma, ultimately creating an inclusive society where individuals feel empowered to seek help for their mental well-being without fear of discrimination.