The 1st Colloquium on Mental Health and Development was held on 10th October, 2013 at the Judiciary Multipurpose Hall, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo to mark the 2013 International World Mental Health Day in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The Colloquium was chaired by Prof. Ed. ‘B. Attah, President, The Edward Attah Pathology Foundation, while Most Rev. Dr. Anselm Umoren, the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja was the Special Guest of Honour. The Keynote Presenter was Prof. Sylvanus Udoidem of the University of Port Harcourt. His paper was titled: Mental Health and Older Adults: Ethical Implication for National Development. Other Guest Speakers at the Colloquium included: Prof. Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, and Prof. Owoidoho Udofia, the President of Psychiatry Association of Nigeria.
The participants at the Colloquium were drawn from various institutions in Akwa Ibom State, such as: Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, School of Nursing, Anua, School of Midwifery, Oron, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, St. Brian Model College, Uyo, Cardinal Ekanem Seminary, Uyo, etc. Other organizations that participated at the Colloquium included the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, etc. The Digital Voice Choir of Akwa Ibom State Government House sang the National Anthem and presented a Special Number at the Colloquium.
The Commissioner of Health, Akwa Ibom State was represented by Dr. Martins Akpan, while the Commissioner of Education was represented by Rev. Barr. Theresa Attih. The event which attracted more than 1,000 participants, commenced with Road-Walk Campaign by the members of the Foundation who distributed about 20,000 copies of the flier on Bipolar Disorders to the public. Indeed, the Colloquium was historical and a huge success.
We thank our partners: Catholic Charity Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), National Human Rights Commission, Planet FM101.1, Uyo, Brand Research Advertising Ltd (BRA), Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) and Prudential Cooperative Microfinance Bank Ltd, Ikpe Annang. The same appreciation goes to our guests for honouring our invitation, thereby demonstrating tremendous support for mental health and development in Nigeria. We appreciate our MCs: Dr. Aniekan Brown, Secretary, ASUU-UUB and Mrs. Imabong Udoh of Pearls Consult Ltd, Uyo.
The Colloquium is an annual event of our Foundation and we hope the 2nd National Colloquium on Mental Health and Development will offer us another opportunity to foster the vision of the World Federation of Mental Health thus strengthening the goals of the Mobile Manna Foundation.