As Nigeria celebrates Father’s Day 2026, many fathers are battling silent, severe mental health crisis driven by crushing economic hardships and deep societal pressures.

They also decried the systemic gender bias and lack of support structures for men in Nigeria and Africa, urging immediate nationwide commitment to promoting mental health advocacy and institutional recognition for men.

Fathers also spoke on Sunday in Lagos, highlighting their expectations for stronger family bonds and a more inclusive society.

The 2026 Father’s Day is being celebrated on Sunday, June 21: it is an annual observance marked on the third Sunday of June.

Underscoring the psychological weight modern men carried, a Men’s Mental Health advocate, Halima Layeni, emphasised that a severe mental health crisis, driven by relentless societal pressures and economic challenges, was quietly ravaging Nigerian fathers.

Layeni, the Founder and Executive Director of the Life Abuse Foundation (LAAF), presented a grim overview of key issues confronting men across the country, including underemployment, financial inadequacy, and alarming rates of unreported domestic violence against men.

To cushion this crisis, Layeni advocated for the urgent establishment of a Federal Ministry of Men Affairs to ensure men received the structural protection and psychological support necessary for their well-being.

“The establishment of the Ministry of Men Affairs is of immense importance.

“The ministry will provide focused attention on men’s unique issues, improve health outcomes through targeted campaigns, and create economic opportunities that enhance stability and reduce poverty among men,” she said.

Corroborating the advocate’s position, a civil servant, Ferdinand Okoji, noted that the pressure to fulfill traditional roles as primary providers without receiving corresponding domestic appreciation induced severe psychological stress in men.

“Fathers toil day and night to ensure they put food on the table, take care of the family, provide, and make sure that everybody is happy.

“However, most women take it for granted.

“This comes with a lot of stress on men trying to meet up with daily obligations,” Okoji stated.

He added that instead of finding their homes to be peaceful sanctuaries to unwind from economic anxieties, many men faced hostile and cold environments.

“When these men come back home, instead of their wives to calm the stress level the men have gone through, they put more fire.

“It is unfortunate, and the challenge continues as the economic situation of the country continues to batter men,” he said.

Also contributing, a 60-year-old father, Papa Ejima, decried how macro-economic hardships like inflation, unemployment, terrorism, and kidnapping directly impacted paternal mental well-being, especially when children project societal failures onto their fathers.

Papa Ejima lamented that the current hardship had triggered a massive youth migration (Japa) wave, leaving aging parents, especially fathers, isolated and anxious about their future care.

According to him, the mothers would usually join their children especially when it was time for “omugwo’’.

“I have a daughter that graduated from the university two years ago and she has not been employed.

“Each day, my daughter puts the blame on me because of the hardship in the land, demanding that she wants to migrate to another country to secure a job.

“So, the challenge now is, who will take care of me at old age if all of them decide to travel out of the country or out of my base in search of greener pastures?” he asked.

By David Torough, Abuja

Preparations have reached an advanced stage for the World Sickle Cell Day 2026 Awareness Walk and Community Health Outreach, scheduled to take place in Zuba, Abuja, on June 20, as organizers intensify efforts to mobilize public participation ahead of the event.

The initiative, themed “Together, We Can End the Pain of Sickle Cell,” is being organized by a coalition of sickle cell advocacy groups, including the Beulah Sickle Cell Foundation, Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation (OOSCF), Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation, StrongCell Foundation, SOM Sickle Cell Foundation, and Cells of a Generation Initiative.

Organizers say the event is expected to be one of the largest community-driven sickle cell awareness campaigns in the Federal Capital Territory this year, bringing together healthcare professionals, volunteers, corporate organizations, schools, faith-based groups, community leaders, development partners, and members of the public.

The outreach aims to increase awareness about sickle cell disorder, encourage genotype testing and counseling, support individuals and families affected by the condition, and strengthen community engagement in prevention and care efforts.

Activities scheduled for the day include an awareness walk from the Central Mosque, Zuba, to the FCT College of Education, Zuba (Old Campus), alongside free genotype screening and counseling services, health education sessions, advocacy engagements, and support programmes for people living with sickle cell disorder.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat.

It is also receiving support from organizations such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Novo Nordisk Haemophilia & Haemoglobinopathies Foundation (NNHF), IHS Towers, Indomie Noodles, DNT Auto Limited, and other corporate and development partners.

The event has also received the endorsement of His Royal Highness Muhammad Bello Umar, the Agora of Zuba, whose support has contributed to community mobilization efforts.

Speaking ahead of the outreach, Founder and President of the Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation, Obi Light Ogbonnia, described the collaboration as a significant milestone in sickle cell advocacy in Nigeria.

“This is more than an awareness walk. It is a demonstration of what can be achieved when patient organizations, government institutions, development partners, corporate organizations, and traditional institutions unite around a common cause,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to participate in the event, stressing the importance of collective action in raising awareness, supporting individuals living with sickle cell disorder, and advocating for improved healthcare outcomes.

Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally, making awareness campaigns, early diagnosis, genotype education, and access to quality healthcare essential components of efforts to reduce the impact of the condition.

As the event draws closer, organizers have renewed calls for volunteers and sponsors, emphasizing that contributions through funding, materials, expertise, and participation will help ensure the success and impact of the outreach.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has revealed that one out of every four Benue State is stunted and experiencing nutritional deficiencies.

The International organisation further intimated that findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed that 25.

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, disclosed this during a High-Level Engagement and Planning Meeting for Policymakers, Local Government Councils and Stakeholders on the United States Government-funded initiative, “Preventing Malnutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life” held in Makurdi, the State capital.

Mrs. Onuora further revealed that only 6.4 percent of children in the state consume the minimum acceptable diet, a figure she described as evidence of poor dietary diversity and inadequate feeding practices.

She appealed to the Benue State Government to make adequate investments in nutrition programmes and release counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund, stressing that malnutrition continues to threaten the health and development of thousands of children in the state.

Mrs. Onuora, explained that the programme was designed to address malnutrition during the critical period from conception to a child’s second birthday, regarded globally as the most important window for physical growth and brain development.

According to her, the initiative is being implemented with funding support from the United States Government and aligns with Nigeria’s Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition.

“Benue and Enugu were among seven states selected nationwide to benefit from the programme, with 12 local government areas chosen in Benue for implementation.

“Nutrition is a foundation of human capital development and investments made during the first 1,000 days of life determine a child’s future health, educational attainment and economic productivity.

“The first 1,000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday, provide a unique opportunity to influence growth, brain development and future productivity. It is during this period that the foundation for a healthy and prosperous society is laid.

“Despite Benue’s reputation as Nigeria’s food basket, the state continues to record worrying nutrition indicators. Findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicated that 25.5 percent of children under five years in the state are stunted, an indication of chronic malnutrition.

“One out of every four children in Benue is stunted. This means these children are not attaining the expected height for their age because of prolonged nutritional deficiencies,” the Specialist said.

She noted that poverty, displacement caused by insecurity and limited access to nutrition services have compounded the challenge.

According to her, UNICEF recently conducted nutrition screenings in one of the affected local government areas and discovered alarming levels of acute malnutrition among children.

“We screened 127 children and found that only 26 percent were normal. About 46 percent were suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition, while many others had moderate acute malnutrition. These are figures that require urgent intervention,” she said.

The UNICEF official also highlighted the prevalence of anemia in the state, disclosing that 56 percent of pregnant women and 61 percent of children under five suffer from the condition.
To address the challenge, she said the programme would support the procurement and distribution of nutritional commodities including Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS), Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).

She explained that the supplements help prevent malnutrition, reduce anemia and improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and young children.

Mrs. Onuora, however, stressed that the success of the programme would depend largely on the willingness of the Benue State Government to take ownership of it.

“Our request is simple. The state government must own this programme. Development partners can provide technical assistance and support, but sustainability can only come when government invests resources and drives implementation,” she stated.

She also called for nutrition-focused budgets across key ministries and agencies, including Health, Agriculture, Education and Women Affairs, to ensure effective implementation of the state’s nutrition action plan.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, assured UNICEF and other stakeholders that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration remained committed to improving healthcare and nutrition outcomes in the state.

He described the US Government-supported initiative as a welcome intervention and pledged the state’s cooperation.

“We are grateful to the United States Government and UNICEF for this initiative. The Benue State Government is committed to working with partners to ensure that our children are protected from malnutrition and that the programme succeeds,” he said.

Dr. Ogwuche maintained that the present administration had introduced reforms across various sectors and would provide the necessary support for nutrition interventions.

“The Governor has consistently demonstrated commitment to the wellbeing of the people. I can assure you that this programme will receive the needed attention and support from government,” he added.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Prof. Jerome Andohol, said the fight against malnutrition requires coordinated action across several sectors.

He identified health, education, agriculture, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene as critical sectors that must work together to improve nutrition outcomes.

Prof. Andohol disclosed that the state was considering budget realignments to create dedicated nutrition funding lines and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to track implementation.

“We want to ensure that nutrition is adequately captured in the budgets of relevant sectors. We also intend to engage local governments so they can contribute to the Child Nutrition Fund alongside the state government,” he said.

The Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, emphasized the link between nutrition and learning, noting that malnourished children often struggle academically.

“A child who is not properly nourished cannot effectively learn. Nutrition is therefore not only a health issue but also an education and development issue,” she said.

She advocated greater public awareness on healthy feeding practices and the use of locally available food products to improve children’s diets.

The meeting attracted commissioners, local government chairmen, development partners and other stakeholders who deliberated on strategies for reducing malnutrition and improving maternal and child nutrition across Benue State.

Stakeholders agreed that stronger government commitment, increased funding and sustained multi-sectoral collaboration would be essential to achieving lasting improvements in nutrition and securing a healthier future for children in the state.