Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Ibadan

30/01/2026

Day Three of Professor Swaran Preet Singh’s Visit: Fun, Fieldwork, and A Little More Learning

We ended the day just as we started it — full of fun, laughter, and a strong sense of community!

The evening wrapped up at Taberna Restaurant in Iyaganku, Ibadan, where Professor Singh was hosted by members of the TRANSFORM and SHINE project teams, led by Principal Investigator Professor Olayinka Omigbodun. Professor Akinyinka Omigbodun, Co-investigator on the TRANSFORM Project, was present alongside his guests: Yash Dhuldhoya of Georgetown University, USA; Professor Richard Lilford of the University of Birmingham, UK; and Dr Seth Garz of the Gates Foundation, USA. It was a relaxed evening of meaningful conversations and shared reflections on research, collaboration, and impact.

Earlier in the day, Professor Singh visited Holy Trinity Grammar School, one of the SHINE Project intervention sites. The team was warmly received by the principal, Mrs Bolanle Olanike Makinde, and members of the school management.

Students took part in an interactive health literacy revision session led by Dr Bunmi Fola-Bolumole and Dr Ejoh. They confidently answered questions on mental health, emotional well-being, and nutrition, including the Go, Grow, and Glow food groups. Their feedback was thoughtful, including a suggestion to create a WhatsApp group for parents so families can better understand what students are learning.

The visit also included a tour of the school’s Nutri Garden, where students proudly showcased cucumbers, ewedu (jute leaves), and efo tete (African Spinach, Green Amaranth) they had cultivated. Professor Singh expressed his delight at the garden’s progress, and harvested vegetables were shared with students and teachers. This was a practical demonstration of linking mental health, physical health with nutrition and gardening with sustainability.
Professor Singh later delivered two lectures at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre to residents, lecturers, and clinicians in the Department of Psychiatry and masters students in the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH).

In the first lecture, he explored current debates within psychiatry, challenging both the dismissal of psychiatry as a discipline and overly narrow biological explanations of mental illness. He emphasised the major role of social and environmental factors such as urban stress, migration, isolation, and childhood trauma, while addressing stigma and misconceptions about severe mental health conditions.

His second lecture focused on early psychosis and early intervention, presenting strong evidence that reducing the duration of untreated psychosis significantly improves long-term outcomes. Prof. Singh drew on international research and the UK’s experience with specialist early intervention services. He showed how timely, community-based, multidisciplinary care not only reduces disability and relapse but also helps young people return to school, work, and meaningful life roles more quickly.

Below are links to the lectures:

Psychiatry and its New Discontents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4wRLTkPq2M&t=1091s

Early Psychosis and Early Intervention in Psychosis: Much Done, Much More to Do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4wRLTkPq2M&t=7611s

21/01/2026

Day Two of Professor Swaran Preet Singh’s Visit: School Engagement, Courtesy Visit, and TRANSFORM In-House Review

On 20th January 2026, Day Two of Professor Swaran Preet Singh’s visit signalled a transition from reflection to action. The day brought together students, educators, researchers, policymakers, and institutional leadership, offering an opportunity to observe the project's impact on the ground, reaffirm institutional support, and take stock of lessons emerging from implementation. Activities for the day included a school visit under the SHINE Project, a courtesy call to the Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and an in-house review meeting with the TRANSFORM Project team.

SHINE Project School Visit to Ibadan Municipal Grammar School

The day began with a visit to Ibadan Municipal Grammar School, Yemetu, the pilot school for the Implementing Early Mental and Physical Health Detection and Support Promoting a Whole School Approach to Health and Well-being in Low-Resource Settings project, branded as Supporting Healthy Living and Nutrition in School-Age Adolescents (SHINE).

Professor Swaran Preet Singh arrived with the SHINE team at 9:22 am. He was received by the school leadership, including the Principal, Mr Sakiru Adewolu, and the Vice Principal (Administration), Mrs Olufunke Falana, who is the focal person for the SHINE Project in the school. At her request, Mrs Adetoun Adetule delivered the opening address and introduced members of staff present. The programme commenced at 9:45 am, following the arrival of a representative from the Ministry of Education and the seating of students.

In addressing students who had participated in the SHINE sessions, Professor Singh spoke about resilience, persistence, and self-belief. Drawing parallels between Nigeria and India, he noted similarities in population size and the determination of young people to succeed, particularly when they pursue opportunities beyond their immediate environment. He encouraged students to remain focused on their education and reminded them that persistence often distinguishes success from failure. He also emphasised the importance of caring for physical, mental, and nutritional health. Professor Olayinka Omigbodun reinforced his message by highlighting the value of people skills and the ability to work well with others. She then formally introduced Professor Singh, the SHINE Co-investigators Dr Kofoworola Adediran, Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah, and Dr Oluwabunmi Fola Bolumole, as well as members of the SHINE project team.

There was an interactive feedback session led by Dr Oluwabunmi Fola Bolumole, Co-Investigator on the SHINE Project, with Yoruba-language interpretation support from Toluwalade Arijeniwa, Research Assistant, to ensure ease of understanding. The students shared detailed reflections on how the programme had influenced their daily lives. Some students recalled the "Go, Grow, and Glow" nutrition model taught during the health literacy sessions by Dr Shirley Ejoh, noting how it helped them make healthier food choices. The Head Girl spoke about how the nutrition and mental health sessions helped her reduce overeating and build a daily exercise routine. Another student shared that learning how to eat a balanced meal with as little as ₦500 changed how he now plans his meals.

Some students also spoke candidly about mental health. One student described how she had previously felt depressed and withdrawn, but now felt better able to relate with her peers following the counselling and mental health literacy sessions. Others shared that they had learned not to smoke or use harmful substances, how to manage menstrual hygiene, and the importance of seeking help from a counsellor when feeling distressed or encouraging friends to do the same. Gardening activities were frequently mentioned, with one student proudly explaining that he had started planting maize at home and found the experience joyful and calming.

When asked how the programme could be improved, students suggested adding more sessions on drug abuse, cultism awareness, menstrual health, and personal hygiene. Others appealed for the programme to be expanded to more schools, which was consistent with feedback from some teachers. One teacher advocated for expanding SHINE to more schools and integrating it into the school curriculum, while also raising concerns about student feeding. The Vice Principal reiterated the programme’s value and proposed aligning sessions with extracurricular periods to avoid disrupting academic work. Mrs Feyisayo Banjo, representative of the Ministry of Education, emphasised that access to information improves student outcomes, expressed hope for the programme’s sustainability, and noted that discussions on school feeding were ongoing at the Ministry.

The session concluded at 11:20 am with closing remarks by Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah, following Professor Omigbodun’s reflection that “our children’s mental health is our nation’s wealth.” During the meeting, the Vice Principal asked for help with the school's only water source, which had been contaminated by an Oxygen plant nearby. Following the session, the school’s well was inspected. In response to the observed challenges, Professor Singh made a £350 donation to support immediate remediation. The team departed the school at 11:45 am.

Courtesy Visit to the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan

At 11:55 am, the SHINE and TRANSFORM teams arrived at the Provost’s Office for a courtesy visit led by Professor Olayinka Omigbodun FAS.

Professor Omigbodun formally introduced Professor Swaran Preet Singh and the project teams to the Provost, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran FAS, the Management Team and the Executive Committee of the College. In her address, she highlighted Professor Singh’s portfolio as Overall Principal Investigator of both the Implementing Early Mental & Physical Health Detection & Support: Promoting a Whole-School Approach to Health & Well-being in Low Resource Settings branded as Supporting Healthy livIng and Nutrition in school-age AdolEscents (SHINE) and Transforming Access to Care for Serious Mental Disorders in Slum Communities (TRANSFORM) projects.

She outlined the research value of both initiatives to the College, emphasising their grounding in implementation science, their contribution to training and service delivery, and their growing policy relevance. She also highlighted TRANSFORM’s findings on referral pathways and collaboration between traditional, faith-based, and biomedical practitioners, as well as SHINE’s successful entry into schools and strong student engagement. She stressed the central role of nutrition and gardening in SHINE, noting that mental health interventions cannot be separated from nutritional wellbeing, and spotlighted the contributions of Dr Shirley Ejoh in this area.

In his response, the Provost, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran FAS, welcomed Professor Singh and thanked the project teams for their research that extends beyond academic outputs to tangible social impact. He stressed the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, ethical rigour, and strong grant stewardship. He noted that while government support is essential, research funding, training, service delivery, and innovation are critical to sustaining academic institutions, and he expressed appreciation for collaborative projects domiciled within the College.

The Deputy Provost, Venerable Professor S. B. Olaleye, the College Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Odedele, the Medical Librarian, Dr Grace A. Ajuwon, and the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Professor Oyeronke A. Odunola, speaking on behalf of the Executive Committee present: Professor M.D. Dario - Dean, Faculty of Public Health, Professor B. Kolude - Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, Professor Taiwo R. Kotila - Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Professor Prisca O. Adejumo - Dean, Faculty of Nursing and Professor Ikeoluwapo O. Ajayi, Director, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, also welcomed Professor Singh. They encouraged him to experience Ibadan’s culture and hospitality and assured him that he was in good hands with Professor Omigbodun as his host.

In his remarks, Professor Singh reflected on his extensive international travels and shared that he had rarely felt more at home in Africa, especially Nigeria, than anywhere else. He praised the hospitality, resilience, and commitment to high-quality work demonstrated by Nigerian colleagues and expressed admiration for their ability to deliver impact despite systemic constraints.
Those present included Co-Investigators from both projects, Dr Obafemi Jegede, Dr Olayinka Egbokhare, and Dr Kofoworola Adediran, as well as TRANSFORM doctoral students Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah and Mrs Adeola Afolayan.

In-House TRANSFORM Project Team Meeting

The day concluded with an in-house meeting of the TRANSFORM Project team. The meeting was initially planned as a structured update covering work package activities, post-intervention processes, booster training, referral pathways, sustainability structures, data management and handover, and dissemination strategy.

However, Professor Omigbodun set the tone for interactions after she offered a candid and reflective assessment of the project’s evolution. She acknowledged operational realities, such as staff transitions throughout the project lifecycle and the challenges of fully integrating doctoral research into large, multi-site grants. She reflected generally and emphasised that the collaboration on the TRANSFORM and SHINE grants can serve as a model of equity in global research, balanced collaboration, shared authorship, and intellectual leadership across contexts.

In his response, Professor Singh commended the team for the depth and significance of the work delivered. He encouraged the team to focus on impact, noting that the successes outweighed the challenges. He emphasised the importance of writing and dissemination as central to scientific legacy and led discussions on publication pathways, collaborative writing strategies, and strengthening the visibility of TRANSFORM outputs.

Present at the meeting were TRANSFORM Co-Investigators, Dr Olufemi Jegede and Dr Olayinka Egbokhare; doctoral students, Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah and Adeola Afolayan; Project Manager, Victoria Oladepo; and Research Assistants, Soji Ojoawo and Akin Owolabi.

19/01/2026

Day One of Professor Swaran Preet Singh’s Weeklong Visit Begins with Interactions on the SHINE Project at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Ibadan

Today, we welcomed Professor Swaran Preet Singh to the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health as he begins his week-long visit to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. The meeting marked the first day of engagement on the project titled “Implementing Early Mental and Physical Health Detection and Support Promoting a Whole School Approach to Health and Well-being in Low-Resource Settings”, branded as SHINE, the Supporting Healthy Living and Nutrition in School-Age Adolescents project.

In her welcome address, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, Principal Investigator for the SHINE Project Ibadan, Nigeria, thanked Professor Swaran Preet Singh for visiting, outlined the programme for the week, and led introductions. She emphasised the integrated design of the SHINE intervention, which brings together a holistic package on nutrition, physical health, mental health, counselling, and nutri gardening within a whole school approach. The session then focused on the overall design and delivery of the SHINE intervention, including a review of the Theory of Change map, stakeholder co-production with adolescents, teachers, and policymakers, and the development of the Health Literacy Manual.

Shiyanbola Akinola, Project Manager, led the presentation on intervention development. She outlined the co-production process, the rationale for the SHINE project name, and the structure of the Health Literacy Manual. She highlighted key components of the intervention, including physical activity promotion, nutrition education, food demonstrations, nutri gardening, and mental health literacy, as well as the delivery model involving co-facilitation by specialists and counsellors. The team also reviewed intervention delivery across the pilot and main study phases, including baseline assessments, staggered implementation across schools, counselling pathways, and monitoring and evaluation processes.

Dr Oluwabunmi Fola Bolumole, a Co-Investigator on the SHINE Project, led the discussion on the disengagement and sustainability programme. She highlighted teacher sustainability workshops, harvest celebrations, the establishment of SHINE clubs, and strategies to embed ownership within schools. Key issues raised during discussions included low levels of physical activity, gaps in nutrition knowledge, affordability of healthy food, limited mental health literacy, and weak or poorly implemented school nutrition policies. Delivery challenges such as space constraints, school schedules, and holiday breaks were discussed alongside enabling factors, including strong student engagement, culturally relevant content, hands-on activities, food demonstrations, gardening, and counsellor-led sessions.

Professor Singh engaged the counsellors and research assistants and invited them to share their field experiences. Some counsellors described the work as "eye-opening" and reflected on adolescents’ stressors, openness, and help-seeking needs. Professor Singh emphasised that SHINE is an implementation science project and stressed the importance of documenting barriers, collecting high-quality data, and recognising the intervention's long-term and generational impact.

Present at the meeting today were the Co-Investigators, Dr Kofoworola Adediran, Dr Tolulope Bella Awusah, Dr Shirley Isi Ejoh, and Dr Oluwabunmi Fola Bolumole. Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr Iyeyinka Kusi-Mensah was also present also with Project Managers, Shiyanbola Akinola and Kehinde Adegbuyi. Research Assistants were Funmi Macaulay, Nifesimi Alasan, Toluwalade Arijeniwa, and Blessing Edet. Counsellors were Eunice Umoren, Feyisara Taiwo, and Nafeesah Abdulsalam. Dr Rita Tamambang, a consultant to the team also attended. Administrative team members are Adeola Afolayan, Esther Ogunsola, and Temitope Yusuf and Media team members Timothy Ibe, Chuka Ononye, Olusoji Ojoawo, Oluwaseun Abimbola, and Teno Ikime.

Further project and academic engagements, as well as school visits to implementation sites, will continue tomorrow.

17/01/2026

05/01/2026

Join the 27th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) 2026 in Hamburg, Germany

The International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) will hold its 27th World Congress from 1–4 July 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. This global event brings together child and adolescent mental health professionals, researchers, and advocates to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and explore innovative solutions for improving mental health care worldwide.

Members of the CCAMH Family are encouraged to submit abstracts for oral presentations or posters and participate in this vibrant scientific programme. The deadline for submissions is 20 January 2026, offering a valuable opportunity to showcase your work on a global stage.

A highlight of the Congress will be a keynote lecture by Professor Olayinka Olusola Omigbodun, Founding Director of the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH), University of Ibadan, and past International President of IACAPAP (2010–2014). Her keynote, “Two decades of child and adolescent mental health in Africa after Berlin 2004: Task crafting, task shifting and task sharing,” will reflect on Africa’s progress in child and adolescent mental health over the past 20 years and the role of global partnerships in research, training, service development, and advocacy. This is an excellent chance to learn from her experience and be inspired by Africa’s growing contribution to the global mental health community.

To learn more about the Congress, visit: https://www.iacapap-congress.com/

For details on the keynote lectures, see: https://www.iacapap-congress.com/programme/keynote-lectures.html

22/12/2025

SAVE THE DATE: 1st WEALTH & 2nd CAMH Conference, 20–25 July 2026

The conference will focus on the use of mathematical modelling to inform policy, practice, and the strengthening of mental health systems. More information on conference themes, other speakers, and abstract submission will be shared in due course. Please check the accompanying flyer for more details.

05/12/2025

Oluwabukola Adeoye of the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH) and Other AMARI-II Fellows Spotlighted at Ghana Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Symposium

The African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) is a mental health research capacity-building programme launched in 2015 to build an Africa-led network of future leaders in mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) research. AMARI is currently implementing its second phase, AMARI-II (2023–2027), with funding support from the second phase of the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa) programme, an initiative of the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) implemented with support from Wellcome and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

AMARI-II recently supported a three-day CPD Symposium on Combating Mental Health in Ghana: Collaborative, Research and Ethical Approaches by Health Professionals. The event was organised by the Catholic Health Professionals’ Guild and brought together mental health practitioners, researchers and students from across West Africa.

During his presentation, Professor Benedict Weobong, the West Africa Hub Director, highlighted the work of several AMARI II fellows. A key moment for CCAMH was the spotlight on Oluwabukola Adeoye, an AMARI II doctoral fellow at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH) at the University of Ibadan. Her research focuses on guided bibliotherapy for adolescents with mild to moderate behavioural problems. This study offers a simple and evidence-based approach that can support young people in communities with limited access to mental health services.

Oluwabukola Adeoye’s doctoral research as an AMARI-II fellow at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH), University of Ibadan, is guided by an outstanding team of supervisors. Her primary supervisor is Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, Professor of Psychiatry and Founding Director of CCAMH, with expertise in Child and Youth Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health. Her co-supervisors include Prof. Cornelius C. Ani, Adjunct Professor at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Imperial College London, specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Dr. Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, Associate Professor in Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan, with expertise in Gender Communication, Language Arts, and Gender-Based Violence; and Dr. Zoe Moula, Lecturer in Mental Health at King’s College London, Deputy Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health-Arts, Health and Wellbeing Steering Committee, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Art Therapy, specialising in arts therapies, school-based and nature-based mental health interventions.

The West Africa Hub Director also spotlighted the work of other AMARI II fellows across the region. They are:
• Dr Kenneth Adde, a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Ghana, is conducting research on strengthening mental healthcare service preparedness.
• Bernard Owusu Afriyie, a doctoral fellow from the University of Ghana, is examining the mental health of young people living with Type 1 diabetes.
• Sarah Conteh, a doctoral fellow from the University of Makeni in Sierra Leone, is studying the increasing burden of mental health disorders among children and adolescents. Sarah is a CCAMH alumnus (Set 4 on the Master of Science in CAMH), a member of the set from Sierra Leone, one of several from across the continent of Africa who received funding from the John D. & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation grant to undergo studies in CCAMH.

Prof. Weobong’s session, which focused on research gaps, proven interventions and the role of collaboration in advancing mental health in Ghana, received strong engagement from participants and encouraged the use of research evidence in clinical practice.

The symposium, held online from 20–22 November 2025, offered six CPD points and created a platform for sharing African-led research and practical approaches to improving mental health care.

CCAMH is proud to see Oluwabukola Adeoye and Dr Sarah Conteh’s work recognised and acknowledges the critical role AMARI-II continues to play in strengthening mental health research capacity across West Africa.

05/12/2025

The WEALTH Team Conducts Orientation for Policymakers from the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion Joining the WEALTH Course

As part of efforts to advance the implementation of the Utilizing Mathematical Modelling to Tackle Depression and Related Mental Health Conditions among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa project, branded as Women dErive mAthematical modeLs for menTal Health (WEALTH), the WEALTH Team paid a courtesy and training visit to the Office of Mr. Olutoye Diya Ogunjimi, Director, Women’s Programmes, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State on Friday, 7th November, 2025.

The purpose of the visit was to conduct the WEALTH Course training orientation at the Ministry for its nominated representatives who will participate in the WEALTH Project. The Introductory WEALTH Course is an online course that trains researchers and policymakers in the use of mathematical modelling to address depression and related conditions in Sub-Saharan African countries. The Ministry nominated Mr Olutoye Diya Ogunjimi and Mrs Olafunmilayo Adebukola Akinpelu, Assistant Director and Head of Unit, Gender (2015–present), to take part in the training to strengthen policymakers' engagement within the project and enhance cross-sector collaboration for mental health research and intervention.

During the session, Dr. Rita Tamambang, WEALTH Postdoctoral Fellow, provided a comprehensive overview of the project, detailing its background, objectives, and milestones achieved so far. She explained that the WEALTH Project is a capacity-building initiative aimed at women researchers and policymakers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The project focuses on equipping participants to develop, refine, interpret and evaluate mathematical models that would inform clinically effective and cost-effective interventions addressing depression and related mental health conditions among adolescent girls and young women.

In her presentation, Dr. Tamambang discussed the background of the project, noting that mental health conditions account for about 10% of the global disease burden among adolescents, with adolescent girls and young women being three times more likely than their male counterparts to experience depression and other related mental illnesses. She highlighted that WEALTH seeks to build a critical mass of women researchers and policymakers who can apply mathematical modelling to shape mental health interventions and strengthen policy responses.

She went on to present the Project Workplan, outlining the various components including curriculum development, stakeholder engagement, student recruitment, research uptake and communications, and data management. Dr. Tamambang described how the project was co-produced through stakeholder inception meetings and curriculum development workshops that brought together mathematical modellers, statisticians, policymakers, mental health and gender experts, and social scientists to jointly define the training content and delivery structure.

In discussing the Research Plan and Methodology, she emphasised the project’s focus on developing nine training modules, including Basic Mathematics and Mathematical Modelling, Spatial Modelling, Epidemiological Principles, Brain and Mental Health, Gender Studies, and Health Economics. The nine modules are: Basic Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling, Application of Mathematical Modelling in Practice and Policy, Basic Statistics and Statistical Modelling, Spatial Modelling, Brain and Mental Health, Epidemiological Principles, Gender Studies, Health Economics, and Academic Writing and Stakeholder Engagement. These modules are designed to promote interdisciplinary learning and strengthen women professionals' ability to use data-driven approaches in policy formulation.

Dr. Tamambang also reviewed the progress and milestones achieved to date, including the successful stakeholder inception meeting held in December 2023, the completion of two curriculum development workshops, and the recruitment of trainee researchers and policymakers across participating countries. She underscored the project’s emphasis on co-production, demonstrating how sustained stakeholder participation has guided the project through its development stages. She concluded her session by introducing the course directors, highlighting their expertise and leadership roles in psychiatry and modelling.

Following her presentation, Simeon Olaoye, Project Manager I, provided a detailed overview of the research activities carried out to date on the project and the structure of the WEALTH Course. He elaborated on the recruitment of trainee researchers and policymakers from across 19 African countries, including participants from diverse professional backgrounds.

Mr Olaoye presented the course structure, explaining that the training is divided into three phases: a four-week introductory phase, a five-month intensive training phase, and a 12-month research-intensive phase. He further described how the course modules are structured to build progressively from foundational concepts in mathematics and statistics to applied modelling and research communication. The aim, he noted, is to enable participants to connect mathematical concepts to real-world public health challenges, develop models that capture the essential features of complex systems, and ultimately translate research insights into actionable policy recommendations.

Thereafter, Oluwatosin Ogundipe, Project Manager II, guided the participants through a practical session on navigating the Moodle learning platform, demonstrating how the online course materials and assessments are structured and how participants can engage with the content and facilitators throughout the training period. The team also discussed expected deliverables from the training phase, highlighting how participants’ involvement would contribute to broader project outcomes, particularly by shaping mental health policies and gender-responsive interventions through evidence generated by mathematical modelling.

In his remarks, Mr. Ogunjimi thanked the team for their presentation and expressed the willingness of the team to participate actively on the WEALTH Project. He emphasised his interest in Spatial Modelling, noting his background in Geography. He talked about the usefulness of data analytics and mapping tools in the Ministry's work. He mentioned that work in their Ministry is expected to happen mainly in the field rather than in an office. He also highlighted some of the things the participants will need to ensure their success in the WEALTH course. This provided the team with the opportunity to finalise their NEEDs Assessment, ensuring policymakers have a stress-free participation during the course.

At the close of the orientation, the nominated policymakers, Mr. Olutoye Diya Ogunjimi and Mrs. Olafunmilayo Adebukola Akinpelu, completed a pre-training knowledge assessment, designed to provide a baseline understanding of participants’ current knowledge levels. This will enable the project team to track learning progress and measure capacity-building outcomes upon completion of the course.

Mr. Ogunjimi and Mrs. Akinpelu were joined by colleagues from the Ministry, Mr. Kehinde Philip Oladokun and Ms. Oluwatoyin Oni, who also participated in the session.

The WEALTH Team was led by Dr. Rita Tamambang, Postdoctoral Fellow, and included Simeon Olaoye (Project Manager I), Oluwatosin Ogundipe (Project Manager II), Okeogheneteno Ikime (Learning Manager and Research Associate), and Oluwaseun Abimbola (Communications and Research Uptake Manager).

The visit provided an opportunity to introduce the project objectives, promote partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, and prepare its representatives for meaningful participation in the WEALTH Course. The orientation ended on a cheery note, with both teams reaffirming their commitment to promoting women’s mental health through innovative, evidence-based approaches grounded in mathematical modelling.

Picture References
Picture 1: A group picture of WEALTH Team with officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion

Picture 2: Mr. Olutoye Diya Ogunjimi, Director, Women Programme, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State in conversation with Mrs. Olafunmilayo Adebukola Akinpelu, Assistant Director and Head of Unit, Gender (2015–present)

Picture 3: Dr. Rita Tamambang talking about the research activities of the WEALTH Core Team during her presentation.

Picture 4: A cross-room view of Mr. Ogunjimi’s office while Project Manager, Simeon Olaoye (standing), was making his presentation

Picture 5: Geographical spread of participants on the WEALTH Project

Picture 6: Oluwatosin Ogundipe, Project Manager II, explaining how participants on the WEALTH Course can navigate the Moodle Platform

Picture 7: Mrs. Akinpelu taking the pre-screening test after the end of the WEALTH team presentation during the orientation visit

Picture 8: Souvenir presented from the Ministry by Mr. Ogunjimi to all visiting members of the WEALTH Team