TY Danjuma partners JDI to fund mental health for Kaduna teachers

Dotun Omisakin Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI) has expanded its mental health education programme to Kaduna State, equipping public-school teachers with practical tools to manage stress, enhance classroom delivery and boost student learning outcomes. The intervention funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation builds on earlier successes recorded in the FCT and Kwara State. The Kaduna project […]

Dotun Omisakin

Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI) has expanded its mental health education programme to Kaduna State, equipping public-school teachers with practical tools to manage stress, enhance classroom delivery and boost student learning outcomes.

The intervention funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation builds on earlier successes recorded in the FCT and Kwara State.

The Kaduna project was introduced in response to growing concerns over teacher burnout, poor welfare conditions and the impact of these challenges on effective curriculum delivery.

Fourteen teachers received intensive training, while an additional 176 benefited through step-down sessions conducted in their respective schools, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 190 across 14 schools. This ripple-effect design ensures sustainability beyond the initial training group.

Angela Omeiza, Founder of JDI, described the initiative as a crucial step toward improving the learning environment in public schools.

“We cannot expect stronger learning outcomes if the people driving classroom instruction are overwhelmed, unheard or unsupported. This project gives teachers the space, skills and policy access they need to stay mentally healthy and effective, and we are pleased to see Kaduna stakeholders committing to real, practical change,” she said.

The capacity-building component featured a two-day workshop covering modern pedagogy, inclusive learning, classroom discipline, Gen Z learning styles and stress management. Teachers also participated in a dedicated mental-health session, including an Unburden Group Therapy exercise led by a psychologist, which offered a safe space to discuss personal pressures, workplace struggles and coping strategies.

To strengthen policy engagement, JDI convened a Strategic Policy Meeting for Health and Education stakeholders in Kaduna. Participants included the Ministry of Education, Teachers’ Service Board, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Quality Assurance Authority and officials from the Ministry of Health. The meeting fostered direct dialogue between teachers and policymakers, resulting in immediate clarifications on curriculum reforms, teacher transfers and welfare-related issues.

The project also featured media and advocacy activities, including a radio programme that broadened public awareness of the link between teacher well-being and classroom performance. Participating schools received educational materials and mental-health resources to support ongoing psychosocial awareness.

This Kaduna intervention is part of a five-year partnership (2023–2027) between JDI and the TY Danjuma Foundation aimed at promoting mental-health literacy and strengthening teaching effectiveness in public secondary schools across five states: FCT, Kwara, Kaduna, Niger and Kogi.

Founded in 2019, Jela’s Development Initiatives works to expand access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, mental-health support and voluntary blood donation, while also creating youth-empowerment opportunities through volunteering.