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Experts Urge Students to Prioritize Mental Health and Know Their Legal Rights

Experts have urged students to prioritize their mental well-being and stay informed of their legal responsibilities to avoid the dangers of stress and ignorance.

This call came during the Joint Seminar organised by the Hospital Visitation Committee (HVC) and the Correctional Service Visitation Committee (CSVC) of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSNUI).

The seminar themed “Silent Escalation”, was held on Saturday, 28th June, 2025, at the Faculty of Pharmacy Auditorium, University of Ibadan.

Dr. Uthman Adedeji, a Senior Resident at the Emergency Medicine Department, University College Hospital (UCH), delivered the first lecture titled “Cognitive Drain: How Information Overload and Poor Health Habits Sabotage Mental Clarity.”

Dr. Adedeji identified overburdening responsibilities, family pressure, and excessive information intake as key contributors to mental fatigue.

He explained that lack of adequate rest and poor sleep habits further compound the problem, silently eroding mental clarity among students.

To combat this, he proposed a dual approach, prevention and recovery, centered on self-care, time management, and consistent rest.

He also cautioned against harmful practices such as overnight reading and reliance on energy drinks, urging students to adopt healthier coping strategies.

The second session was led by Barrister Ismaila Akorede Saka, Chairman of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State. He spoke on the topic “The Quiet Nexus: When Ignorance Becomes a Legal Liability.”

Barrister Saka began his session with a firm legal reminder that ignorance is no defence under the law, defining it as a lack of knowledge and citing a prophetic warning against remaining uninformed.

He urged participants to seek meaningful knowledge, reflect before acting, and uphold ethical conduct both within and beyond the campus.

He stressed that legal violations like examination malpractice and cybercrime carry serious consequences under both Islamic and Nigerian laws.

Mallam Abdullah Bello, Chairman of the day and Ameer of MSSN Akinyele Area Council, in his address, called on students to take outreach activities seriously.

“Join HVC, CSVC, and other committees whenever they go for outreaches,” he urged.

In his closing address, the Ameer of MSSNUI, Mallam Umar Faruq Qamorudeen, urged students to take responsibility for their well-being by eating healthy, sleeping well during exams, and recognising the physical demands of academic life.