…As Harafat Oluyedun Foundation, David Oni Initiative Award ₦5m Bursaries and Scholarships
Health experts from the Harafat Oluyedun Foundation, in partnership with the David Oni Initiative, have highlighted the urgent need to prioritise mental health among Nigerian youths, along with strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining mental wellbeing,
The initiative, through a fusion of philanthropy, education, and public health advocacy, has also awarded ₦5 million in bursaries and scholarships to more than 100 indigent students.
The colourful event, held at the College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, Ibadan, not only reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to educational support but also brought health concerns to the fore, particularly the growing challenge of mental wellbeing among Nigerian youths.
Speaking at the event, keynote speaker, Pharm. (Dr) Adekunle Faderemi Idowu, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and CEO of Living Faith Pharmacy, Oyo, noted that with rising cases of depression and substance abuse among students, targeted mental health interventions remain crucial in promoting academic success and national development.
Idowu stressed the critical role of mental health in student success, emphasizing that stress, anxiety, and depression are rising among young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. “We must treat mental health with the same urgency as physical health,” he warned, noting that untreated mental health challenges, coupled with the rising menace of drug abuse, silently rob many students of their future.
Pharm. (Chief) Hamidu Adediran Oluyedun, executive director of Harafat-GTB Pharmacy and co-founder of the Harafat Oluyedun Foundation, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to holistic youth empowerment.
Alongside his wife, Chief (Mrs) Ganiyat Toyin Oluyedun, chief nursing officer at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, he presented the bursaries to the beneficiaries, encouraging them to pursue academic excellence while maintaining balance in their mental and emotional wellbeing.
In his remarks, Pharm. Oluyedun, a retired director of Pharmaceutical Services, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, described education as a key driver of national development. He thanked partners, stakeholders, and the David Oni Initiative for sustaining the vision of giving hope to indigent students.
Pharm. Araromi Jokotade Ajike, who chaired the occasion, commended the consistency of the bursary awards, describing the foundation as a model of sustainable social impact that goes beyond education to touch the health sector.
Other speakers, including Dr Amusat Olatunde, Pan Yoruba activist; Babajide Kafari Olasunmade, retired TESCOM permanent secretary; and Dr Mogbonjubola Owolabi, provost of the College (represented by Dr Medinat Adeniran), praised the health-oriented approach of this year’s edition, urging other NGOs to emulate the synergy of educational and health interventions.
The event also featured the presentation of annual memorial awards, including the Mubo Obasa Award, won by Mrs Layi Aarinola, the Roseline Olutomi Ladiipo Memorial Award, won by Lady Rachael Bolaji Ishola, and the Chief Mrs. Mercy Adeshakin Award, won by Mrs. Adeyinka Mojirade Olajide.
Yearly memorial recognitions in honour of Late Mrs Ayoola Adesegun (grandmother of Dr Oni) and Late Mrs Ibijoke Taiwo Oni were also conferred on Chief (Hajiya) Kehinde Fasasi and Pharm. (Dr) Adekunle Idowu respectively.
Beneficiaries, drawn from multiple institutions, expressed appreciation, noting that the scholarships not only reduce their financial burdens but also inspire them to pursue academic and personal wellbeing more holistically.
The event, co-hosted by Pharm. (Chief) Hamidu Oluyedun and Dr David Oni, was graced by notable dignitaries, including Lady Rachael Bolaji Ishola; Surveyor Layi Aarinola; Mrs Adeyinka Mojirade Olajide; Pharm. Sopeju T.B; Pharm. Adeyanju Rasaq; and Dr Lukman Tunde Fasasi.
By marrying education with mental health advocacy, the Harafat Oluyedun Foundation and the David Oni Initiative continue to chart a new path in youth empowerment, one that recognises that academic excellence must go hand-in-hand with sound health.
