In a bold move to re-imagine the intersection of mental health and creativity, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 played host to the Young Leaders for Arts and Health (YLAH) Lagos Summit, a globally recognized, youth-led initiative that champions holistic wellbeing through the Arts.
Hosted at the Faculty of Creative Arts Hall, the summit unfolded under the theme: “Reimagining Health: Creativity, Community & the Future of Youth Wellbeing.”
Co-produced by the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship (GAIMF), the Commonwealth Leadership Institute (UK), Uwevwi Studios, and the Faculty of Creative Arts, UNILAG; the summit was an eclectic gathering of mental health advocates, healthcare professionals, art therapists, academics, and creatives, all unified in their commitment to shaping a healthier, more expressive future for young people.
Notable dignitaries included the Global Director of YLAH and founder of GAIMF, Dr. Kunle Adewale, and Dr. Florence Nweke, Convener and Chair of the event, who also represented Dr. D.K. Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, a key sponsor of the event.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Foluso Afolabi Lesi who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, at the event, expressed enthusiasm for the summit’s theme. He described it as “timely and necessary, especially in today’s mental health climate affecting the youth”.
His words “Health isn’t just the absence of disease. It is a complete state of wellbeing; whether physiological, psychological, and social. Across the world, health institutions are now turning to the arts – not just to heal, but to help patients tell their stories. I’ve seen art illuminate the resilience of those living with autism and other mental health conditions. This summit affirms that movement.”
The summit featured two compelling panel sessions. The first panel on Reimagining Health: Creativity, Community and the Future of Youth Well-being, was moderated by Mrs. Mitchel Adegbola of the Faculty of Creative Arts. It brought together Social Innovator and Leadership Consultant, Abraham Ologundudu; Medical Doctor, Dr. Sanmi Oduntan; Founder/CEO, Prefect Tour, Chimaka Obuekewe.
The second panel on The Healing Power of Arts: Case Stories, Lived Experience, spotlighted voices who courageously shared personal and professional journeys in the mental health space. It featured Clinical Psychologist, Mr. Segun Odufuwa; Mental Health Advocate, Public Health Professional, and GAIMF Fellow, Tosin Kolawole; Artist and Art Therapist, Iniabasi Leye as well as an Alumna of the Harvard Mellon School of Theatre & Performance and Lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Arts, UNILAG, Dr. Toyin Olokodana-James, and Amodu Adebayo, a Filmmaker, Digital Producer, and Community Strategist.
The two sessions highlighted hard-hitting issues including depression, trauma, sexual violence, and the stigma surrounding mental illness. The experiences of the panelists sparked raw, emotional responses from the audience, and these turned the sessions into not just dialogues, but collective acts of healing.
The event was also a vibrant showcase of creative performances featuring spoken word poetry, musical interludes, and contemporary music by young creatives. These moments provided both emotional release and affirmation, reinforcing the summit’s theme: that art is not just for entertainment, but a vessel for wellness and recovery.
In her closing remarks, Chair of the event, Dr. Florence Nweke, described the summit as more than a gathering.
Her words “What we have witnessed here today is a living experience of ideas, emotions, and creative energy. We’re not just talking about youth mental health – we are embodying it, expressing it, and working toward sustainable solutions.”
She extended gratitude to the University Management led by Professor Ogunsola, event sponsors, facilitators, guests, and most importantly, the enthusiastic students and young participants whose presence made the summit a success.
The 2025 YLAH Lagos Summit marked a critical point in Nigeria’s mental health advocacy landscape. By bringing together interdisciplinary voices and championing the power of the arts, it redefined healing and community support.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Maleek Daniel Quadri (Student Intern)
