In Nigeria, “almost everyone is traumatized”: Priest, Psycho-Spiritual Institute Founder Urges Professional Support

The campus in Abuja affiliated to Veritas University Abuja is an expansion of the Nairobi campus that has been affiliated to the Kenya-based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) since 2014. So far, the Institute has trained 170 professionals from 27 countries and is set to graduate about 190 by end of 2026.

“We’ve also trained 500 people in one-week workshops like this—laypeople, doctors, social workers, teachers, and even policemen,” Fr. Ehusani told ACI Africa.

These trainings, he said, offer more than just theoretical knowledge. They combine elements of psychotherapy with spirituality to provide holistic healing.

“We are unique here because we use an integration of psychotherapy and spirituality. Our experience is that we get better results that way,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.

The July 21-26 workshop for Veritas University Senate members sought to highlight the critical need for psychological first aid training among administrators, teachers, and staff, targeting those who regularly support students facing academic stress, personal loss, and social challenges.

“With these skills, they can address difficult situations effectively before referring cases to licensed professionals,” Fr. Ehusani explained.

The member of the Clergy of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Lokoja invited Bishops and those at the helm of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) to recognize the urgency of mental health support within the Church.

“Can you imagine when Priests, who are supposed to lead the people are themselves traumatized, confused, burnt out, or suffering addiction? The consequences are devastating. I plead with Bishops and Superiors to send more people for training on trauma healing,” he appealed.

1. Ehusani disclosed that the Vatican is currently developing a pastoral document on psychological care in the Church, with Lux Terra Leadership Foundation and its partners among consulted contributors.

“We are making our contributions to the Vatican’s document on integral human development. Maybe when it is published, more Bishops and Superiors will pay attention to this vital area,” he said.

Fr. Ehusani believes that with more investments in training and awareness, Nigeria can build a network of Clergy, educators, and professionals capable of spearheading healing initiatives at the grassroots.

“We’re hoping to train more each year, especially if we get the right resources,” he told ACI Africa, and added, “The reports we’re getting are that they are indeed helping people, to the glory of God.”

“This is a serious ministry; mental health is as important as physical health. When a Priest is healed and properly integrated, he helps the healing of his entire Parish,” Fr. Ehusani said on July 25.

In another interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the training targeting members of the Senate of Veritas University Abuja, the Registrar of Veritas University and Secretary to the Senate, Dr. Stella Chizoba Okonkwo, described the initiative as vital to the institution’s mentoring policy.

“We train our students in character and learning; but many students are traumatized. Some of the abnormal behaviors we see, like absenteeism or erratic conduct, are trauma symptoms. From this training, we’ve learned that we must go beyond punishment. We must get to the root of the problem and help the student heal,” Dr. Okonkwo said.

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She underscored the need to treat faculty and staff as psychological first responders, saying, “We must always reach out to students and not just let them face expulsion or suspension. That is what true healing is about.”

“The parents have brought these children to us to train, and to help them to bring them up and form them to be better people in the society,” Dr. Okonkwo said.

On his part, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of Veritas University, Prof. Gabriel Egbe, told ACI Africa that the training was timely and essential.

“This kind of training is not only expedient but should be available to all academic staff and caregivers in Nigeria, as we prepare for the new academic session. It is a wonderful foundation for engaging with our students,” Prof. Egbe said.

According to Prof. Egbe, “Everybody is generally tensed in Nigeria and unsure of what the next action is going to be.”

In such an environment, he said that teachers must learn not only to teach and research, but also to counsel students and even colleagues.

To foster resilience, Prof. Egbe said that faith has an important role. He said, “We all believe that there is an almighty God that guides the affairs of men… Even if sometimes there is suffering, we should see and find meaning in that suffering.”