Experts in the health sector have proffered solutions on how stress can be managed without affecting mental health, especially, naval wives commissioned, and other individuals involved in high risk jobs, at a seminar themed: ‘Shine’, to mark Nigerian Navy’s 70th Anniversary, held at the Admiralty Conference Hall 1, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island Lagos on Wednesday June 3.
The maiden edition of the seminar, which focused on self-control, humility, integrity/inner balance, nurturing relationships and emotional balance/stability, had in attendance the President of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA), Mrs Aisha Idi Abbas. Also present were the members of NOWA and Naval Ratings’ Wives Association (NARAWA); while the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, was the Special Guest of Honour. A book titled: ‘Code of the Navy Wife’ was also launched while a dance troupe from QSchool presented a drama titled: ‘Time Out’.
The resource persons for the one-day seminar included: Dr. Chinonso Egemba (popularly known as ‘Aproko Doctor’), while Surgeon Captain, John Akpan, spoke on physical well-being, while Ambassador Martin Shirley Goreng-Sen spoke on Etiquette & Protocol, and Engr. (Mrs.) Akubudo Okpalanma on mental health. The panellist discussion/ moderation was anchored by Dr. Sa’Adatu Adamu (PhD).
In her comments, Mrs. Abbas said: “Today, as we celebrate this golden milestone, we are not only reflecting on gallant service on the high sea, but also turning our gaze inward to the human beings in the uniform. “The officers who stand watch the families who keep the home front strong, and the wives who silently carry both joy and burden. Today’s theme challenges us to confront two powerful truths. First, mental health is not a luxury and Etiquette, but a very foundation of operational effectiveness and family stability.
“In an institution where developments are long, breaks are constant, and silence is often seen as strength, we must ask ourselves the difficult question, how many of our officers return home carrying invisible wounds? “How many spouses have mastered the act of smiling through anxiety and loneliness?
How many children have learned to grow up faster than they should simply because duty called? The sea does not only test ships, it tests minds and hearts. The time has come for us to build a culture where seeking help is not weakness, but the ultimate demonstration of courage and responsibility.”
Speaking further she said: “Secondly, etiquette is not mere politeness. It is the language of leadership and legacy in a world growing increasingly rough, and impulsive. How we carry ourselves, how we speak, how we honour our traditions, and how we treat one another reflects the very soul of our culture. “As wives of the naval officers, we are not bystanders in this journey.
We are the anchor in the storm, the quiet strategist in the home, and the first line of emotional defence for our families. “The seminar is being organised as both a celebration and a sermon call to action, a call to equip ourselves with knowledge, empathy, and grace so that we can both support the Nigerian Navy mission”.
On her part, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said that the theme for the seminar: “All encapsulated as a topic – mental health. You need this to function very well. Medically, we say there’s no health without mental health.
“Mental health is something that we all are interested in, and it seems as if that’s why I’m hammering on it, because it affects us every day, whether you like it or not.”
She explained further: “We give you the vitamins, and you think that after you take the vitamins, you become very well, but honestly what was really happening to you was your mental health. “Whatever you were saying, by the time you have poured down half of it to the doctor that you were talking to, you’re actually being cured.
You needed someone to talk to, you needed someone to share your issue with, and you didn’t know who to talk to, who to trust. Like one of the resource persons said, you talk to somebody, and then she’s going all over the place, blabbing about your condition, and then that further depresses the person.”
In her goodwill message, the Lagos State First Lady said: “I must also commend the Naval Officers’ Wives Association for complementing the efforts of the Nigerian Navy through impactful programmes like this that promote family values, women empowerment, community development, and social support for officers and their families.
“Your contribution continues to strengthen not only naval families, but also the larger society. The theme of this seminar further attests to the growing importance of emotional stability and inner balance in today’s world. “As a matter of fact, the pressures of work, family responsibilities, societal expectations, can sometimes take a toll on individuals and families.
Therefore, seminars such as this provide valuable opportunities for reflection, learning, self-improvement, and personal growth. As women, mothers, caregivers, we play critical roles in shaping the moral fabric of the society. “The values we uphold in our homes ultimately reflect in our communities and in the future of our nation.
This is why it is important for us to continually invest in personal development, family cohesions, and mental and emotional wellness. “Let us remain committed to supporting one another, promoting peaceful coexistence, and building stronger family units anchored on love, discipline, and mutual respect.”
Continuing she said: “I also urge us to continue appreciating and supporting the sacrifices made by officers and personnel of the Nigerian Navy who work tirelessly to ensure the security and stability of our nation. Their dedication deserves our prayers; their dedication deserves our encouragement, and our wavering support.
“As Lagos State continues to promote programmes that enhance family well-being, women empowerment, youth development, and social inclusion, we remain open to partnerships with organisations such as NOWA in advancing causes that positively impact lives and strengthen society.”
On his part, Dr. Egemba said: “We focused on how stress can affect health and that is very important on the people that are very involved in very high stake jobs especially as the naval wives commissioned to be able to manage stress in order to elongate their health.”
He said that: “The topic empowers the listeners and also plays a role in their own health, I advise that stress is good but chronic stress is bad, you need to be able to manage the level of stress that you have from time to time.”
Contributing Mrs. Okpalanma said: “The mental health burden of the Nigerian Women is a lot, most times if you find that the mental health issues on its own are seen as a luxury topic.
Thing that is not obtainable to a common man, some will look at it as Western problem, but a lot of women are carrying out a lot of weight and if it is not checked people tend to develop mental illness from it, the good thing about this session was that it gave women clarity, it encourage them to open up and to create safe spaces for other women around them.
“You find out why most people keep things bottled up because they are afraid of opening up to somebody and the story becomes the next gossip in town, and if we are able to hear other people out keep it within ourselves then you will by saving the next woman by your side.”
QSchool spiced the day with a drama titled: ‘Time Out’, choreographed by a theatre graduate, Miss Angela Okolo from University of Benin, said that: “Time out…… is a piece that talks about different individuals who are seeking for a special kind of awareness, who are going through under different stress mental issues and are seeking help in different forms.
“Sometimes we don’t get that help, most times it is positive and most times negative and when we are going through that journey of life, we will come to a self-realisation decision of the things that really matter of the support that we really need.” Okolo, Director of the QSchool, added: “The QSchool is a space where we have students who come in here for one year training, a training programme that has to do with dance, music, sound, movement, media. We already had the work. It was coincidental to the theme of the seminar.”
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