By Raji Rasak

Dr Emmanuel Ahmadu, a Nigerian Mental Health Advocate based in the U.S., has joined the Collegiate Mental Health Advisory Board Committee under the Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health (OPCSMH).

Ahmadu, who failed the West Africa School Certificate of Education 17 times, disclosed this in a telephone interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

NAN reports that OPCSMH is a statewide initiative administered by Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

He said the appointment was a critical opportunity to strengthen mental health and suicide prevention strategies across Ohio’s higher education system.

Ahmadu said that he represented Cuyahoga County at the state level, where he worked alongside public health experts, university administrators, and student advisors to provide strategic input on mental health policies.

According to him,  the advisory committee serves as a collaborative platform focusing on improving campus safety and mental health accessibility for Ohio’s diverse student population.

“This committee allows us to bring real solutions closer to campuses, especially as mental health issues increasingly affect Gen Z students across the U.S.

“In addition to the advisory role, I am currently serving as an unpaid Behavioural Health Specialist intern at Ohio Guide Stone, a leading nonprofit and Ohio’s largest community-based behavioural health provider.

“On May 1, 2025, I became the first intern in the 161-year history of the organisation to receive the Valerie Harper Cultural Competence in Mental Health Award at the annual awards ceremony of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

“This also marked the launch of Mental Health Awareness Month.

“OhioGuidestone, founded in 1864, provides services to more than 26,000 individuals annually through over 40 locations across the state.

“Its extensive offerings include outpatient counselling, school-based interventions, crisis care, workforce development, substance use treatment, and early childhood mental health services,” he said.

Ahmadu said that the NAMI awards committee had commended him for his commitment to culturally competent advocacy that is breaking barriers, reducing stigma, and spreading hope across communities and cultures, highlighting his exemplary service to underserved and marginalised groups.

“The Ahmadu’s growing involvement in Ohio’s mental health landscape continues to underscore the critical role of the Nigerian diaspora in shaping global mental health policies and interventions,” stated a statement from NAMI. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu