FG To Establish Brain Health Desk, Develop Nigeria’s First National Brain Health Agenda
Federal Government Announces Establishment of Brain Health Desk
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to create a Brain Health Desk as part of its National Mental Health Programme and to develop the country’s first National Brain Health Agenda. The initiative aims to enhance the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of neurological disorders.
This announcement was made by Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, during a ceremony in Abuja commemorating World Brain Day 2026.
Kachollom stated that the Brain Health Desk will provide national leadership in brain health. It will focus on policy development, research, advocacy, workforce training, and creating partnerships with various stakeholders, including government agencies, hospitals, professional organizations, academia, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
The proposed National Brain Health Agenda aims to serve as a strategic framework to improve governance in healthcare, expand access to neurological services, strengthen healthcare capacity, promote research and innovation, and foster collaboration. It will align with the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders for 2022-2031 while addressing Nigeria’s specific requirements.
Kachollom noted that neurological disorders affect over 3.4 billion individuals worldwide and are the leading cause of disability. She highlighted that Nigeria faces increasing rates of conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodevelopmental disorders, many of which are associated with mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing brain and mental healthcare through ongoing initiatives, including the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. She announced that World Brain Day will now be included in the Ministry’s annual health commemorations calendar to raise public awareness.
Kachollom urged healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society, the private sector, traditional and religious leaders, the media, and the public to collaborate in reducing stigma, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging early diagnosis, and improving access to rehabilitation services and essential medications.
“Investing in brain health is not only a health imperative; it is an economic imperative,” she said, emphasizing that safeguarding brain health can unlock human potential, enhance productivity, foster innovation, and contribute to a robust economy.
Dr. Charles Nzelu, Director of Public Health, highlighted the critical importance of brain health for learning, productivity, healthy aging, and national development. He noted that stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability in Nigeria.
Dr. Tunde Masseyferguson Ojo, National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, welcomed participants and acknowledged the Ministry’s commitment to advancing mental and brain health initiatives.
Engineer Chika Okwuolisa, Founder of the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, praised the Ministry’s formal recognition of World Brain Day as a landmark achievement, marking the first time Nigeria has celebrated this event at the national level. She called for sustained investment, stronger policies, and broader access to quality neurological care from all stakeholders.
