In a bold and transformative move to confront the rising wave of mental health challenges among Nigerian students, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has taken a significant leap forward. Through its newly launched training workshop themed “Leveraging Technology to Enhance Counselling Services in Higher Institutions,” FUOYE has set a precedent for rethinking how universities deliver psychological and emotional support in the digital age.
The event, which took place on September 30, 2025, at the Faculty of Education Auditorium, was organised by the Counselling and Human Development Centre (CHDC). It brought together counsellors, psychologists, university administrators, and mental health experts who are determined to bridge the gap between traditional face-to-face therapy and modern virtual counselling practices.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olubunmi Shittu, gave a stirring address that anchored the entire event, calling for a digital reawakening in Nigeria’s higher education system. “Technology has offered us every opportunity to expand our reach,” he declared, stressing that the era of analogue counselling must give way to e-counselling models that can connect with students wherever they are.
Professor Shittu’s words reflect a growing urgency in Nigeria, where economic uncertainty, insecurity, and digital addiction have worsened the mental health of young people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the highest rates of depression in Africa, with suicide attempts among students becoming increasingly common. By promoting technology-driven counselling, FUOYE is aligning itself with a global movement that sees mental health support as a digital necessity, not a luxury.
In his speech, the Acting Vice-Chancellor painted a vivid picture of the struggles students face daily academic stress, peer pressure, financial constraints, and family issues. He lamented that many students register for wrong courses or drop out entirely due to lack of guidance and mental stability. Even with interventions such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), he observed, financial hardship remains a key driver of psychological distress among undergraduates.
He further acknowledged the overwhelming burden placed on university counsellors, who must now deal with more complex cases of depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies. “In the past, we relied solely on face-to-face dialogue. But today, virtual engagement and e-counselling offer us the chance to reach students who may never step into a counsellor’s office,” he said, hinting at a shift from reactive to proactive counselling.
While commending the CHDC for its foresight, Professor Shittu noted that the digital transformation must go beyond technology; it must reshape institutional attitudes. “This is not just about acquiring tools,” he emphasized. “It’s about preparing for a new era where counsellors remain role models in creative, technology-enabled ways.” His statement underscores the importance of adaptability and innovation within Nigerian academic counselling systems long constrained by limited infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of the CHDC Director, Prof. O.O. Owoseni, the Deputy Director, Dr. (Mrs.) A.B. Adam reaffirmed that counselling services form the backbone of holistic education. She reminded the audience that “no university in Nigeria can be accredited without a functional counselling centre,” underscoring the profession’s importance to student wellbeing and institutional credibility. Her remarks also touched on the workshop’s subtheme “Navigating Financial Wellness in Tough Economic Times” which speaks directly to the socio-economic pressures confronting students today.
The two keynote speakers, Prof. T.T. Olofintoye and Dr. (Mrs.) A.B. Adams reinforced the message that digital integration is now inevitable. Prof. Olofintoye described e-counselling as “no longer a luxury but a necessity,” noting that today’s students are “digitally native.” He urged Nigerian universities to invest in secure internet infrastructure, modern digital tools, and confidential virtual therapy platforms, ensuring that online sessions meet ethical and professional standards.
Dr. (Mrs.) Adams, on the other hand, focused on the depth of counselling practice, delivering a lecture on “Scientific Counselling Stages and Their Effectiveness.” She detailed the psychological techniques behind successful therapy, emphasizing that counsellors must continuously refine their skills through both traditional and virtual engagements. “This is not a profession where you can say, ‘I have done enough.’ We serve students, staff, families, and the entire university community,” she declared passionately.
Both speakers raised a critical national issue, counsellors’ underappreciation. They called on university managements and government bodies to recognize the value of the counselling profession, which, though often overlooked, remains central to student success and national productivity. They insisted that without emotional stability, no student can thrive academically, especially in today’s high-stress educational environment.
The presence of senior FUOYE officials Professor T.B. Opoola (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration), Dr. Sunday Akinkunmi (Personnel Officer, representing the Registrar), Dr. (Mrs.) Bolanle Debo-Ajagunna (University Bursar), and Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede (Public Relations Officer) lent further weight to the university’s institutional support for mental health advocacy. Their participation symbolized the university’s unified vision to make counselling a strategic pillar of student welfare.
As the workshop concluded, participants expressed renewed commitment to embracing innovation and ensuring no student suffers in silence. For FUOYE, the event was more than training; it was a declaration of intent to lead a national transformation in mental health support within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
In his final charge, Professor Shittu called on participants to “move away from outdated models and embrace the future of counselling because our students deserve nothing less.” His words echo far beyond FUOYE’s campus; they are a challenge to all Nigerian universities to confront the mental health epidemic with urgency, empathy, and technology. In an age of digital disruption, FUOYE’s model stands as a blueprint for compassionate, forward-looking education in Nigeria.
