Prof. Baji identifies mental health as educational issue

• …Advocates policy overhaul at IBBUL inaugural lecture

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji, an educational psychologist at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), has stated that mental health must be viewed as an educational issue rather than solely a medical matter.

He made the assertion during his presentation at the university’s 31st Inaugural Lecture, titled “Educational Psychology Beyond the Classroom: Promoting Well-Being, Character Formation and National Development,” held at the main campus in Lapai.

During his address, Professor Baji explained that families, schools, and communities share a joint responsibility for the psychological well-being of young children, emphasizing that psychological empowerment must precede economic empowerment.

He noted that character education serves as a critical national security strategy, arguing that issues such as corruption, violence, and social instability stem from character failures that educational psychology can help prevent by fostering positive values, peace education, and responsible citizenship.

Looking ahead, the inaugural lecturer envisioned a future where educational psychology serves not only as an academic discipline for understanding learning, but also as a catalyst for building psychologically healthy individuals, resilient families, inclusive schools, responsible communities, and a cohesive Nigerian nation.

Based on his research findings, Professor Baji recommended that the Federal Government reposition educational psychology as a core component of national development policy.

He argued that challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, school dropouts, examination malpractice, and declining moral values cannot be resolved through military and economic measures alone.

To achieve these goals, he outlined key federal priority areas, including integrating comprehensive mental health initiatives within schools, strengthening guidance and counseling services nationwide, mainstreaming character, civic, and citizenship education, promoting inclusive, equitable education and family-centered policies, and institutionalizing psychological support within national education frameworks.

Addressing state governments as the primary implementers of educational policies, Professor Baji urged them to expand early childhood education, support parental education programs, upgrade school guidance units, foster child-friendly learning environments, and build teacher capacity in educational psychology.

He also called on Nigerian universities to modernize their educational psychology curricula, increase research funding for mental health, strengthen postgraduate training, establish campus-based psychological support services, and promote community engagement to inform evidence-based policy.

Concluding his presentation, Professor Baji reiterated that educational psychology must extend beyond classroom instruction to promote social stability, security, confidence, and sound moral development, noting that citizens require psychological well-being to remain productive and contribute to society.

In his closing remarks, the Vice Chancellor of IBBUL, Professor Mohammed Hadi Suleiman, commended the inaugural lecturer for celebrating scholarship, intellectual distinction, and the transformative power of knowledge.

He stated that Professor Baji’s presentation deepened the understanding of the relationship between education, well-being, character formation, and national development.

The Vice Chancellor further noted that the lecture was particularly timely because a nation’s progress relies heavily on the quality of its human capital and the ability of its citizens to innovate and respond to emerging challenges.