FG to establish brain health desk, unveil Nigeria’s first National brain health agenda

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced plans to establish a Brain Health Desk under the National Mental Health Programme and develop Nigeria’s first National Brain Health Agenda to strengthen the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of neurological disorders across the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Daju Kachollom, announced the initiative on Wednesday at the commemoration of World Brain Day 2026 in Abuja, themed “Brain Health: Access for All.”

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The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.

Kachollom described brain health as a critical pillar of Universal Health Coverage, stressing that quality brain health services must be accessible to every Nigerian regardless of age, gender, income or location.

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She noted that neurological disorders affect more than 3.4 billion people globally, making them the leading cause of disability worldwide. In Nigeria, she said, the burden of conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries and neurodevelopmental disorders continues to rise, often alongside mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

According to her, the proposed Brain Health Desk will strengthen national leadership and coordination on brain health by driving policy development, advocacy, research, partnerships, capacity building, surveillance and integrated service delivery.

She added that the unit will collaborate with government agencies, teaching hospitals, professional bodies, academia, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector.

Kachollom also disclosed that the Ministry would develop Nigeria’s first National Brain Health Agenda to provide a strategic framework for improving governance, expanding access to quality neurological services, strengthening workforce capacity, promoting research and innovation, and fostering multisectoral collaboration.

She said the agenda would align with the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) 2022–2031 while addressing Nigeria’s unique health priorities.

The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative to strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to quality health services, improving the health workforce and advancing mental health services nationwide.

She further announced that World Brain Day would henceforth be included in the Ministry’s annual national health commemorations calendar to sustain public awareness, advocacy and stakeholder engagement on brain health.

Kachollom called on professional associations, academic institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional and religious leaders, the media and Nigerians to work together to reduce stigma, encourage healthy lifestyles, promote early diagnosis and expand access to rehabilitation services, essential medicines and assistive technologies for people living with neurological disorders.

“Investing in brain health is not only a health imperative; it is an economic imperative. By protecting brain health across the life course, we unlock human potential, strengthen productivity, foster innovation and lay the foundation for a thriving brain economy. Every investment we make in brain health is an investment in people, in families and in the future of our nation,” Kachollom said.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s vision of a Nigeria where every citizen has equitable access to quality brain health services and where neurological disorders are prevented where possible, detected early, treated effectively and managed with dignity and compassion.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Charles Nzelu, described the event as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to promote brain health, noting that every Nigerian deserves equitable access to quality brain health services regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status or geographical location.

“Brain health is essential for learning, productivity, healthy ageing, social participation and national development,” he said.

Nzelu observed that neurological disorders have become one of the world’s greatest public health challenges, with stroke remaining a leading cause of illness, death and long-term disability in Nigeria.

He added that the World Brain Day celebration provides an opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen partnerships and promote practical solutions to the country’s growing neurological disease burden.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Dr. Tunde Masseyferguson Ojo, acknowledged the Ministry’s strong leadership and commitment to advancing mental health and brain health in Nigeria.

In her goodwill message, the Founder of Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, Engineer Chika Okwuolisa, described the Ministry’s official commemoration of World Brain Day 2026 as a historic milestone, noting that it marked the first time Nigeria formally observed the global event at the national level.

She commended the Ministry for prioritising brain health and aligning with the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, while recalling the adoption of the action plan during the inaugural African Neurological Summit held in partnership with the Ministry in 2025.

Okwuolisa urged stakeholders to translate the World Brain Day commemoration into sustained action through stronger policies, increased investment, broader partnerships and improved access to quality neurological care, stressing that protecting brain health is critical to Nigeria’s productivity, economic growth and future.

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