Wakaso Opens Up on Suicide Struggles in Nigeria

..,…,Takes Mental Health Campaign to 200 Women

By Dan Amasingha, Minna

Aisha Wakaso, Special Adviser on Print Media to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has taken mental health awareness to 200 women in Minna, urging them to overcome emotional struggles, reject societal judgment and adopt practical coping strategies.

The programme, organized by Wakaso through the Kings Initiative to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Awareness Day, brought together women from different backgrounds for fitness exercises, mental health discussions, dancing and networking at the Bahago Sports Complex, Minna.

Speaking at the gathering, Wakaso said her personal experiences with mental health challenges and the growing number of women reaching out to her with accounts of economic hardship, emotional distress and physical pressures inspired the initiative.

She disclosed that she had contemplated suicide on three occasions but chose to live, using her experience to encourage participants not to allow difficult circumstances to define their lives.

“Nobody, no situation is worthy of taking your life,” she told the women, stressing that failure, painful relationships and family challenges should not be regarded as reasons to give up on life.

Wakaso observed that the fear of being judged and the pressure to meet societal expectations often prevent women from speaking openly about their struggles or seeking help.

“Most times when I look at all of you, I notice that you are afraid. You don’t want to be judged and you don’t want to fail, but failure is part of growth,” she said.

She urged the participants to establish healthy emotional boundaries, protect their self-worth from external pressures and take deliberate steps towards improving their mental well-being.

According to her, regular physical exercise and spiritual practices can provide emotional support during difficult periods. 

She cited her morning walks, which often end with prayers, as one of the routines that help her regain emotional strength.

“Be a lion. Choose peace. Choose happiness,” she charged the women.

The mental health advocate also encouraged women to take responsibility for managing their lives and responding constructively to stress rather than waiting for circumstances to become perfect.

She identified failed relationships and marriages, family tensions and the fear of failure among the challenges women commonly encounter, noting that such experiences should not become sources of shame or isolation.

“I expect that women are able to put their lives together and then manage their lives and cope through the stress that we face as women,” she said.

The event featured two exercise sessions led by three acrobatic instructors, a mental health talk, dancing and networking, providing participants with opportunities to engage in physical activity, share experiences and build supportive relationships.

Participants called for more frequent gatherings to sustain the conversations and support initiated by the programme. Responding, Wakaso said weekly meetings might be difficult because of work schedules but disclosed that she was considering monthly or quarterly sessions.

Wakaso has been involved in mental health advocacy in Niger State, organizing awareness walks in Minna since 2021. 

She has also advocated for the establishment of trauma centres, improved mental health facilities, private wards that protect patients’ dignity and an end to the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Through the Kings Initiative and her public advocacy, she continues to promote both institutional support for people experiencing mental health difficulties and practical approaches to building personal resilience.

The Minna gathering underscored the importance of creating safe spaces where women can discuss emotional struggles without fear of condemnation while learning practical ways to manage stress and support one another.