By Julius Peter, Abuja
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), has called on men, particularly security personnel, to pay greater attention to their mental health and wellbeing, stressing that life should be valued and protected.
Buratai made the call while receiving an award at the 2026 Men’s Mental Health Conference and Award Ceremony organised by the Peace Progress and Unity Global Initiative (PPUGI), in conjunction with PFA Consulting Firm.
The conference, themed “Providing Direction and Support 5.0: Breaking the Silence—Mental Health Support for Our Security Personnel,” brought together politicians, traditional rulers, stakeholders and other participants to discuss the mental-health challenges confronting men and security personnel.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Buratai expressed appreciation to the organisers for recognising his contributions and described the award as an encouragement and a responsibility to do more for humanity.
He said the recognition had presented him with a greater challenge to continue contributing positively to society.
The former Army Chief also urged men to take proper care of themselves, emphasising the importance of valuing life and seeking support when faced with emotional, psychological or other personal challenges.
“Life is for the living,” he said, urging men not to neglect their wellbeing.
The conference highlighted the need for greater awareness of mental-health challenges among security personnel, whose professional responsibilities can expose them to highly stressful and traumatic experiences.
Participants at the event emphasised the importance of creating an environment where men and security personnel can speak openly about emotional and psychological difficulties without fear of stigma or discrimination.
The organisers said the conference was designed to contribute to breaking the culture of silence surrounding men’s mental health and to promote access to appropriate support systems.
Speaking on the initiative, the Founder and Global President of PPUGI, Founder of Farida’s Charity Foundation and Chief Executive Officer of PFA Consulting Firm, Eminence Ambassador Dr. Privé Farida Ahmed, said her humanitarian and mental-health advocacy activities were driven by purpose discovery and her walk with God.
Farida disclosed that she had been involved in mental-health advocacy for 14 years, while her specific advocacy for men’s mental health had continued for seven years.
According to her, the organisation has made significant progress by encouraging men to speak openly about their mental-health challenges, articulate their needs and seek appropriate support.
She said the organisation’s programmes were also aimed at helping to break the culture of silence surrounding men’s emotional and psychological struggles and encouraging men to recognise the importance of caring for their overall wellbeing.
Farida stressed that being alive remained the most important thing, urging men not to lose hope because of what they currently lacked.
She encouraged men to remain patient, careful and determined, saying there were still opportunities and important projects ahead of them.
She said, “Being alive is what matters most. Do not lose hope because of what you do not have today. Remain patient, careful and determined because there are still great projects and opportunities ahead.”
The PPUGI founder further disclosed that her organisations were involved in humanitarian activities and regularly organised advocacy programmes aimed at promoting mental-health awareness and encouraging individuals and communities to support one another.
She said the organisation had continued to use advocacy, conferences and community-based activities to draw attention to mental-health concerns and encourage people to seek help when necessary.
Farida also disclosed that a major mental-health awareness walk was held in Lagos State on September 15, as part of efforts to deepen public awareness and promote conversations around mental wellbeing.
She announced that another major conference, alongside the organisation’s traditional peace walk, was being planned for February 2027.
According to her, the planned activities form part of a broader effort to sustain public engagement on mental health, peace, unity and humanitarian development.
Looking ahead, Farida expressed confidence that the organisation would continue to expand its impact, saying its activities would remain guided by her faith, purpose and commitment to humanitarian service.
She also unveiled plans for the proposed PFA Trauma-Informed Wellness City, which she described as a world-class trauma-informed centre designed to provide support to Nigerians dealing with trauma and related challenges.
She said the proposed centre would not only provide wellness and support services but would also contribute to improving people’s lives and creating employment opportunities.
Farida explained that the initiative was conceived as part of her broader vision of developing practical structures that could provide support to individuals and communities while addressing the growing need for mental-health awareness and trauma-informed care.
The 2026 PPUGI Men’s Mental Health Conference therefore provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the need for greater attention to men’s psychological wellbeing, particularly among personnel working in the security sector.
The organisers maintained that strengthening mental-health support systems for security personnel was important because of the demanding nature of their duties and the need to ensure that those responsible for protecting society also have access to appropriate support.
The presence of politicians, traditional rulers and other stakeholders at the event underscored the organisers’ efforts to promote a broad-based conversation on mental health and humanitarian wellbeing.
The conference and award ceremony ended with renewed calls for men to prioritise their wellbeing, speak up when they face difficulties and support others experiencing emotional or psychological challenges.
