Students at the University of Ibadan were urged to listen before offering solutions and to seek help early at the fourth edition of Matters That Matter (MTM 4.0), a mental health and suicide prevention programme organised by the Asido Campus Network, University of Ibadan (ACN UI). The event was held at 12pm on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at the KAAF Auditorium, University of Ibadan.
This year’s theme, “MOVE,” stood for Mindfulness, Openness, Vulnerability and Empowerment. Building on last year’s “Rhythm of Life,” the edition used dance and creative performance to draw more than 300 students into conversations about mental health and wellbeing. ACN UI is the youth arm of the Asido Foundation, a mental health advocacy nonprofit working to change how Nigerians perceive mental health through advocacy, education and empowerment.
Changing the narrative
Seven student groups delivered oratory presentations under the sub-theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”: the UI Students’ Union Mental Health Committee, the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), Junior Chamber International (JCI), AIESEC in Ibadan, the Literary and Debating Society, the Health Law Network, and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, UI Chapter. Together, they examined suicide through legal, social, faith-based and medical lenses, aiming to shift the conversation from stigma to empathy.
The UCJ representative noted that the language used to discuss suicide shapes public attitudes, and called for more responsible and compassionate conversations. The JCI representative recalled struggling as a child and described how silence, stigma and social pressure make it harder for people to speak up.
AIESEC in Ibadan ran a 40-second countdown to illustrate how often suicide occurs, reflecting a World Health Organization estimate that one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. WHO’s latest figures put suicide deaths at 727,000 in 2021 and rank suicide as the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29. The presenters urged the audience to remember the people behind the statistics and the pressures faced by women, men and young people alike.
Creative showcases came from Noohrah, De Ultimate Steppers and BlessedSoul, with a solo music performance by Bethel, all students of the university. The Ibadan Peace Club also led a mindfulness session featuring breathing exercises and practical ways to stay present.
What society gets wrong
The panel featured distinguished writer and mental health advocate Sapphire McLaniyi-Agbley; public speaker Barnabas Michael, who shared from his lived experience; Dr Rita Frinue Tamambang, a Research Fellow and psychiatrist-in-training at University College Hospital, Ibadan; dancer and filmmaker Progress Adetula; and Rebecca Ogunnaike, Miss Tourism Nigeria 2026.
The panellists discussed what society still gets wrong about young people’s mental health and how to respond better to someone in distress. They stressed empathy and listening before offering solutions, noting that people from different backgrounds respond to situations differently. They also emphasised that mental health is broader than mental illness and remains everyone’s responsibility. On academic pressure and disappointment, they encouraged students to build supportive communities, develop interests beyond their studies and learn healthy ways of coping with setbacks.
Audience response
One attendee described MTM 4.0 as a “really beautiful event.” She said the dance performance reminded her that no one should carry their struggles alone, while Michael’s story made her reflect on how people respond to others in difficult times. Her biggest lesson, she said, was that “it’s okay not to be okay,” and she urged students to check on their friends.
Rahmat, a 300-level student, called the event “wholesome and amazing,” adding that some of the panel conversations will stay with her long after the programme.
Other participants pointed to the variety of approaches as the most impactful part. “It was the different approaches towards the same goal, suicide,” one said. “The thought that went into emphasising one single topic was mind-blowing: the teachings, the dance, the speech.” Another singled out a speaker who addressed silent pain, as well as AIESEC’s countdown.
Representatives of the Student Affairs Division, UI Health Services, the Council of Faculty Presidents, hall chairmen and hall health ministers attended. The programme ended with the induction of new ACN UI ambassadors, expanding the network’s capacity to support students across the campus.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Contact the Asido Foundation helpline on 09028080416. For more on the Asido Campus Network, UI, follow @asidocampusnetui on social media
