By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The President Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh has said that currently, Bloomerg has ranked Nigeria as the most stressful country to live in the world, based on multiple factors in the living environment.
He made this known while presenting a paper on Stress Management at the 3rd Union Meeting of College of Advanced Studies (CAS) Zaria 1984 Graduands as the Guest Speaker, held at the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Annex Campus, Gaskiya.
Professor Lateef Sheikh said that, “to an average Nigerian, stress is the norm and from the non-existent power supply, poor road conditions, unemployment and abysmal working conditions, stressful poverty-driven lifestyles are rampant and within these issues in mind we can understand.
According to him, stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension, which can come from any event or that makes a person feel frustrated, angry or nervous.
“Also, stress is our body’s reaction to a challenge or demand as it can be positive, such as when it helps a person to avoid danger or meet a deadline.”
Professor Sheikh, a Psychiatric Professor with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said optimal mental well-being is very fundamental to optimum productivity and ability to cope with stressors
He said, “our mental health (emotional) is a critical component if our day-to-day living which can manifest with physical symptoms.”
He added that mental wellness is not mere stress from mental illness, it is dynamic process of change and growth, “ there is no health without mental health”.
In his remarks, the Class Chairman 84 Graduands, Hon. Abdulazeez Hamza Kankara commended his colleagues for answering the call and attending.
He said the re–union will keep them a united force that can assist, support their classmates who are in a situation of need.
The chairman pledged that they will contact the Polytechnic Management to see where they can come and give their contributions as in paying back to where they benefited.
During the occasion, 16 people were honoired with an award of excellence, among whom are the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Kaduna Police Commissioner, Mudashiru M. Abullahi, Dr. Asma’u Ibrahim, among others.
