By Daniel Obaje
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2025 – A prominent Abuja-based cleric and legal scholar has issued a stark warning, framing the escalating rate of suicide among Nigeria’s youth not merely as a personal tragedy, but as a profound societal failure demanding immediate and comprehensive intervention.
Rev. Fr. Anthony Azuwike, who serves as Head of the Department of Private and Property Law at Veritas University, Abuja, shared his grave concerns in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He described the trend as a “serious and growing societal challenge” that has been critically exacerbated by contemporary pressures.
“While suicide is a long-standing global phenomenon, its alarming intensification in Nigeria is directly linked to a toxic confluence of economic despair and unrelenting social pressures,” Azuwike stated. He emphasized that available statistics, though likely underreported due to stigma, paint a clear picture of a mental health emergency concentrated in the younger generation.
The cleric’s analysis moves beyond surface-level observation to dissect the multifaceted roots of this crisis:
The Crushing Weight of Expectation and Economy
Azuwike identified a destructive cycle where parental and societal expectations collide with harsh economic realities. “Young people are told to achieve, to excel, to become pillars of the future,” he explained. “Yet, they are doing so in an environment where education is prohibitively expensive, job opportunities are scarce, and the basic struggle for daily sustenance creates immense emotional strain. When the gap between expectation and attainable reality becomes a chasm, hope evaporates, and feelings of overwhelming failure set in.”
The Student-Specific Pressure Cooker
Contrary to viewing students as a separate group, Azuwike clarified they are at the epicenter of this storm. “Students are not insulated; they are hyper-exposed. They face acute academic pressure, the anxiety of an uncertain future post-graduation, and often carry the financial burdens of their families. The university environment, meant to be a place of growth, can become a pressure cooker of stress without adequate support systems.”
Beyond Economics: The Psychosocial Dimensions
While economic hardship is a primary driver, Azuwike stressed that the crisis cannot be understood through economics alone. He pointed to the devastating impact of relationship breakdowns, social isolation in the digital age, and untreated health conditions—both physical and mental.
“Emotional distress from a broken relationship, when coupled with no outlet for support, can make a young person feel utterly alone. Chronic illness or undiagnosed depression in a system with weak mental health infrastructure leaves them feeling helpless. These are not minor issues; they are crises that demand robust psychosocial support networks which are currently grossly inadequate,” he asserted.
A Call for Systemic Change, Not Just Sympathy
Fr. Azuwike’s message culminates in a urgent call for action. “Labeling this a ‘trend’ is insufficient. This is a systemic failure. We need a multi-pronged response: (1) Destigmatization – open conversations about mental health in homes, schools, and places of worship. (2) Accessible Support – scaling up affordable, youth-friendly counseling and crisis intervention services. (3) Community Vigilance – training for educators, religious leaders, and peers to recognize signs of deep distress. (4) Policy Integration – government must integrate mental health and economic empowerment strategies for youth.”
He concluded by framing the issue in moral and national terms: “The well-being of our youth is the ultimate indicator of our society’s health. Preventing suicide is not just about saving an individual life; it is about preserving our collective future and humanity. We must move from alarm to action.”
(NAN) | Edited by Abiemwense Moru
