Nigerian youth-led startup takes mental health campaign to 25 African countries

A Nigerian youth-led health technology startup, SereniMind, has launched a pan-African mental health campaign aimed at tackling stigma and promoting emotional wellbeing among young people across up to 25 African countries.

The Lagos-based startup, founded by young entrepreneur Ridwan Oyenuga, said its Africa Wellness Voices Initiative (AWVI), which begins in February, will spotlight a different African country each day through short wellness messages, youth-led conversations and partner contributions shared across digital platforms.

SereniMind said the initiative is designed to make discussions around mental health more culturally grounded and accessible, particularly for young Africans who often face social stigma and limited access to mental health support.

“At SereniMind, we are building more than awareness; we are building a new way for young Africans to connect, speak, and support one another around mental wellbeing. As a young Nigerian founder, I have seen how stigma keeps people silent. With AWVI, we are using digital platforms, youth networks, and AI-supported coordination to amplify African voices,” Oyenuga told BusinessDay.

Before its continental expansion, SereniMind said it had reached more than 300,000 young people in Nigeria through digital campaigns, community conversations and online mental health advocacy. The company said AWVI marks its transition from a national youth mental health platform into a pan-African, technology-enabled social impact startup.

Under the AWVI programme, content will feature youth perspectives, country-specific wellness messages and contributions from partner organisations, with a focus on encouraging open conversations around emotional wellbeing and mental resilience.

The startup said the initiative leverages digital storytelling, cross-border youth participation and AI-assisted coordination tools to manage messaging and contributions across multiple countries, highlighting how African startups are increasingly using technology to address complex public health challenges at scale.

Mental health conditions remain among the most under-recognised health challenges affecting young people on the continent, despite rising awareness of their social and economic impact. Limited access to care, cultural stigma and underinvestment in mental health services continue to pose challenges in many African countries.

SereniMind said the campaign aligns with global development frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on health, inequality and partnerships, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which prioritises youth-led development and a healthy population.

Throughout February, AWVI content will be distributed via social media platforms and partner networks, with SereniMind working alongside media organisations, youth groups and health-focused institutions to broaden the campaign’s reach and sustain conversations beyond the campaign period.