The Federal Government 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.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Daju Kachollom, disclosed this on Wednesday at the commemoration of World Brain Day 2026 in Abuja.
The event, themed “Brain Health: Access for All,” focused on expanding equitable access to brain health services across the country.
Kachollom described brain health as a key pillar of Universal Health Coverage, stressing that every Nigerian, regardless of age, gender, income or location, should have access to quality neurological and mental health services.
She noted that neurological disorders now affect more than 3.4 billion people globally and remain the leading cause of disability worldwide.
In Nigeria, she said, the burden continues to grow due to conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries and neurodevelopmental disorders, many of which are worsened by mental health conditions including depression and anxiety.
According to her, the proposed Brain Health Desk will provide national leadership and coordination on brain health by driving policy development, advocacy, research, capacity building, surveillance and improved service delivery in collaboration with government agencies, teaching hospitals, professional bodies, development partners, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector.
She added that the National Brain Health Agenda would provide a strategic framework for strengthening governance, improving access to neurological services, enhancing workforce capacity, promoting research and innovation, and fostering collaboration across sectors.
The agenda, she said, will align with the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (2022–2031) while addressing Nigeria’s unique health priorities.
Kachollom 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 healthcare services, improving the health workforce and advancing mental health services nationwide.
She also announced that World Brain Day would now be included in the Ministry’s annual national health commemorations calendar to sustain awareness and advocacy on brain health.
Calling for stronger collaboration, the Permanent Secretary urged professional associations, academic institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, the media and the private sector to work together to reduce stigma, encourage early diagnosis and improve 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,” she said.
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Charles Nzelu, described the celebration as a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to promote brain health, noting that neurological disorders, particularly stroke, remain a leading cause of illness, death and long-term disability in the country.
He said the event provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, raise awareness and develop practical solutions to address Nigeria’s growing neurological disease burden while reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to brain health services.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Dr. Tunde Masseyferguson Ojo, commended the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening mental health and brain health initiatives across the country.
Founder of the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, Engineer Chika Okwuolisa, described the official commemoration of World Brain Day by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a historic milestone, noting that it was the first time Nigeria had observed the global event at the national level.
She urged stakeholders to translate the renewed commitment into concrete action through stronger policies, increased investment, broader partnerships and improved access to quality neurological care, stressing that protecting brain health is essential to Nigeria’s productivity, economic growth and sustainable development.
