From Mental Health to National Wealth: Professor Emmanuel Alhassan Advocates Psychology for National Development
By Roseline Okafor, Nasarawa.
The Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) on Tuesday held its 55th Inaugural Lecture Series titled “From Mental Health to National Wealth: Psychology as a National Development Imperative,” delivered by Professor Emmanuel Onu Alhassan, a Professor of Organizational Psychology in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences.
The event was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life, was held at the assembly hall of the University, on Wednesday.
In her opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, described mental health as a “pressing issue increasingly becoming a significant global concern.” She emphasized the need to explore the connection between mental health and national development, noting that the lecture provides an opportunity to “unlock the potential of our citizens and enhance economic growth.”
According to her, the university is proactive in addressing mental health issues among students.
“Any student found with mental abuse is propelled immediately to counseling before the situation gets out of hand,” the Vice Chancellor stated.
Prof. Liman appreciated all guests and participants for gracing the event, urging them to actively engage in the lecture and “make diligent use of the knowledge gained.”
In his lecture, Professor Emmanuel Onu Alhassan underscored the critical link between mental health and national development. He maintained that psychology extends beyond hospitals and counseling rooms, stating that “Psychology is not a narrow clinical specialty confined to hospitals and counseling rooms; it is a discipline of human behavior, cognition, emotions, and social systems.”
He then advocated the establishment of psychology center in all the ministries of the federal and state governments to examine the behavior of workers, and emphasized the importance of mental health investment, saying, “When nations invest in mental health, they invest in development and growth.”
According to University don, psychology plays a vital role in understanding and improving human behavior, decision-making, and productivity.
“What drives us as individuals determines how we react,” he said, adding that “bad mental health manifests itself in absenteeism, presenteeism, and dysfunctional conduct.”
The professor advised Nigerians to prioritize psychological assessments for personal and professional improvement. “It is important to go for psychological checkups, so as to know where and how to improve yourself in the lagging areas,” he noted.
In his recommendations, Professor Alhassan called for the integration of mental health into national health and educational systems, stressing the need for “expansion in psychological care and deeper integration into mental health coverage.”
He further urged all stakeholders to “join hands and advocate for the inclusion of psychologists in all sectors across the country,” emphasizing that “health insurance needs to incorporate psychological education, and mental health should be included in our educational curriculum.”
Delivering goodwill messages, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as Mr. John Idoko, the father of the inaugural lecturer, alongside other dignitaries, applauded Professor Alhassan for what they described as a remarkable academic milestone. They commended him for his dedication, hard work, and numerous contributions across sectors, describing him as “a man of many parts occupying several professional positions.”
The high point of the event was the presentation of an honorary award to Professor Emmanuel Onu Alhassan by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to academia and national development through psychology.
The event drew attendance from top university officials, academics, students, and guests who lauded the lecture as both timely and insightful, aligning with the global call for mental health awareness as a driver of national progress.
