From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Medical Director, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna, Prof Aishatu Yusha’u Armaya’u, has said human brains are constantly under siege as a result of the chaos of urban living and the growing culture of sleepless productivity.
Prof Armaya’u, who chaired this year’s Brain Awareness Week Public Lecture organised by the Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University Chapter, said people were living in a world that constantly pushes the boundaries of human resilience.
The lecture, christened ‘Brain on Burnout: The Impact of Environmental Stressors, Substance Use, and Sleep Deprivation’, was held today (Tuesday, 1st July, 2025) at the Auditorium of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
“From the pressures of academia and the chaos of urban living, to the creeping reliance on substances as coping mechanisms, and the growing culture of sleepless productivity, our brains are constantly under siege”. She said.
Prof Armaya’u, who described this year’s lecture theme as timely and necessary, also said the brain remains the most powerful tool for thinking, for learning, and healing.
She described the event as not only a scientific exploration but also a public health call to action.
“It is a moment to reflect on how we, as individuals, institutions, and a society, must begin to protect and prioritise brain health with the same urgency we accord physical wellbeing”, she further said.
Prof Armaya’u said she was thrilled that the event brought together neuroscientists, mental health professionals, policy makers, educators, and the public.
According to her, it was only through collaboration that the stigma around mental health could be dismantled.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, described the lecture as apt given the importance of brain health in human endeavour.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Prof Wilson Hamman, said the brain remains the most powerful tool that helps in decision making as well as building relationships that shape the world.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the President, Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University Chapter, Prof N M Danjuma, urged participants to listen attentively and share their knowledge wisely.
There were a total of four presentations at the occasion by different medical professionals.
Dr Aliyu Muhammad of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Kaduna spoke on ‘Mental Health: An Overview’, while Dr A A Sadeeq of the Department of Human Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University, talked on ‘The Neuroscience of Stress: Impact of Stressors on the Brain’.
Dr. A.S. Isa of the Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, made a presentation on ‘The Role of Sleep in the Regulation of Stress’.
Dr Zainab Mohammed Bello of the Department of Human Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria spoke on ‘Digital Trap: The Impact of Social Media and Screen Time on Sleep and Brain Functions’.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to some selected personalities in recognition of their commitment and tremendous support towards the promotion of healthy living.
