In a bid to assist in stemming the rising cases of crimes and health hazards in the country, a business mogul, Sir Emeka Offor has vowed to sponsor an annual mental health education across the six geopolitical zones.

Offor, who disclosed this at the end of one-day community mental health facilitators training sponsored by his foundation, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation at Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, explained that the programme would hold six times every year in each of the six geographical zones of the country.

The Chairman, Board of Directors of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), who said the programme was parts of his humanitarian services to the society, added that his foundation would partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to rehabilitate drug addicts, as well as train and empower them to be useful to themselves and the society.

Delivering a lecture entitled, Understanding the role of Mental Health Facilitations, Dr Eniabitobi Kuyinu, founder of The Educator, a non-profit organisation, posited that everyone has a mental health issue and unhealed wounds begging for urgent attention.

According to Kuyinu, all Nigerians including the educated and uneducated need mental health training to eradicate their various mental problems such as drug abuse, learning disability, emotional issues, financial problems, untreated ailments, anxiety, depression, emotional imbalance, sexual abuse, health trauma, pains, unresolved issue, relationship, disappointments and others.

Other mental health facilitators, Ms Renee Bryan and Dr Sonja Sutherland, while listing the internet, alcoholism and acculturation as some factors contributing to mental health issues, adviced people to eschew sedentary lifestyles, refrain from high intake of alcoholic and soft drinks and also, find ways to be happy always.

In a remark, Prof. Godwin Okpala, the Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese and Archbishop Province on the Niger, while commending Sir Emeka Offor Foundation for organizing the programme, charged people to pay adequate attention to their health.

It was that the programme was attended by community leaders in Ekwusigo Council Area, the management team of EEDC led by its Chief Executive Officer, Paul Okeke, some representatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Prisons Service, the Police and others.

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