Nigerian Lady, Hauwa Ojeifo Remains An Inspiration As She Receives The Queen’s Young Leaders Award
Nigerian lady, Hauwa Ojeifo has received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in recognition of the lead and impact she is making in their communities to change lives.
Hauwa is dedicated to overcoming the stigma around mental health in Nigeria. She runs a women’s support group called ‘She Writes Women’, which focuses on mental health support and outreach among some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Through this organisation, she set up the country’s first 24-hour mental health helpline, which has so far assisted more than 200 women to gain the support they need. Hauwa also operates ‘Safe Places’ – free monthly support groups for women, which include therapy and help from counsellors, coaches and physicians and carries out ‘Hope Visits’ to people in psychiatric hospitals who have not had visitors for a long time.
Expressing her joy on the recognition, she wrote;
“Words cannot describe this moment.
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First off, Alhamdulillah!
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I really can’t explain it. The journey… God. It has been ROUGH! But only Allah knew in those moments that this was going to happen.
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In those moments of severe depression, mania, psychosis and suicidal thoughts, I would’ve never believed that this was ahead of me. I just didn’t feel I was worthy of life.
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But somehow, I am here. I didn’t do it myself. My mother, my father… My family went through hell so that I could stay alive.
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Mentors and coaches like @kolaosinowo@lanreolusola @udo_okonjo@drmaymunah @josephineeffahchukwumapicked me up and made me stand tall… And I’ll forever be grateful because you saw things in me that even I didn’t see.
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My friends have rallied around me even in confusion and YOU have made me continue this work because you read, like, comment, call, email, give feedback and simply allow me and She Writes Woman be a part of your healing and stories.”
We have her post below
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