Public Policy, Coalition Messaging & Passing the Nigeria Mental Health Act
BY Jakpo Ukueku·2026-05-10
6 min read
How strategic public relations, broadcast partnerships, and civil society coalition building drove national legislative reform.
Passing national reform in complex legislative environments demands aligning public emotion with legislative policy agendas.
During the multi-year advocacy campaign for Nigeria's Mental Health Act, Jakpo Ukueku collaborated with GIZ, the European Union, the Federal Ministry of Health, and over 40 civil society organizations. The campaign combined media broadcasts on Arise TV and ITV, strategic briefings for lawmakers, and grassroots public health advocacy toolkits.
The resulting passage marked Nigeria's first mental health legislative reform in over six decades.
“Policy change requires more than legislative consensus — it requires shifting societal perception through sustained, evidence-based public dialogue.”
