A new effort to address Nigeria’s growing mental health challenges took centre stage in Ibadan on Wednesday as Olamma Cares Foundation marked its 10th anniversary with the launch of the UMÈ Healing Circle Model.
The initiative, which seeks to address gaps in mental health care delivery, is designed to expand access to support through community-driven solutions, with particular focus on women who face limited access to professional services across Nigeria.
The milestone event highlighted a decade of sustained intervention by the foundation in mental health advocacy, women’s wellness, and support for families dealing with neurological and emotional challenges. Over the years, the organisation has built grassroots networks through awareness campaigns, community outreach, crisis support initiatives, and partnerships aimed at reducing stigma and improving access to care.
Speaking at the event, the founder of the foundation, Chioma Nwosu Fakorede, said the model was developed in response to the growing mental health burden in the country and the shortage of trained professionals.
She noted that despite Nigeria’s large population, the number of psychiatrists and mental health specialists remains critically low, leaving many citizens without access to affordable and accessible care.
According to her, the UMÈ Healing Circle Model draws from traditional African systems where communities gathered to share experiences, resolve conflicts, and support one another emotionally, now adapted into a structured framework suited for modern use.
Mrs Fakorede explained that the model provides safe and guided spaces for storytelling, shared listening, and emotional support, allowing participants to process experiences collectively while maintaining dignity and confidentiality.
As part of efforts to sustain the initiative, the organisation also introduced the Ume Healing Mothers Academy, a training platform aimed at equipping women with facilitation and emotional support skills to lead healing circles within their communities.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, commended the foundation for its contributions to mental health advocacy and community development.
He called for wider support for the initiative and urged that the healing model be extended to grassroots communities across the state, while pledging collaboration with the foundation.
Also speaking, Bilikis Oladejo, who represented the state Commissioner for Environment, said the Oyo State Government would support the initiative by piloting the model and integrating it into community health programmes.
She added that plans were underway to train community health workers to sustain the programme and monitor its impact.
A former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Afijio constituency, Seyi Adisa, urged the foundation to focus more on grassroots women, stressing the need to take mental health awareness beyond urban centres.
The UMÈ Healing Circle Model is expected to expand across communities through trained facilitators, providing support that complements formal mental health services while addressing gaps in accessibility and social acceptance.
The event also featured the unveiling of the foundation’s 10-year impact report and the introduction of a new board of trustees, underscoring the organisation’s growth and its continued commitment to improving mental health support systems in Nigeria.
