The Executive Governor of Lagos State,
His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,
Your Excellency Sir,
A Compassionate Appeal for Urgent Action on the Growing Concern about Suicide and Severe Mental Distress among Students of the Lagos Law School.
I write this letter with deep concern as a journalist, and a mother to appeal for your attention on the growing concern about suicide and severe mental distress among students of the Lagos Law School.This issue I believe, should be of grave concern to every responsible leader, parent, educator, and citizen.
Your Excellency, Lagos is known for its energy, innovation and determination.We should also be known as a state that protects the lives and dignity of its young people.When a young person reaches the point of believing that death is the only way out of their pain, it is not enough for society to ask what went wrong after the tragedy. We must also ask what we could have done earlier to prevent it.
The study of law is demanding. For many students, the journey comes with long hours of reading, intense academic pressure, financial difficulties, competition, uncertainty about the future and the constant fear of failure. While these challenges are often treated as normal parts of becoming a lawyer, we must not ignore the human beings carrying these burdens.
This is because behind every student is a son, daughter, sibling, friend or colleague. I therefore respectfully appeal to the Lagos State Government to consider the following measures:
First, Establishment of Accessible Counselling Services for Law Students.
Students should have access to qualified counsellors and mental-health professionals without fear of embarrassment or judgment. These services should be affordable, confidential and easy to access.
Second, Creation of a Mental-health Support Programme for Law Students.
The State Government, in collaboration with relevant law schools, universities, the Nigerian Bar Association and other professional bodies, can develop a structured programme focused on stress management, emotional well-being, crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Furthermore, Introduce Regular Mental-health Awareness Programmes.
Students need to know that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Regular engagements, seminars, discussions and awareness campaigns can help students recognise warning signs in themselves and their colleagues and know where to seek help.
Also, Strengthen Financial and Welfare Support.
Financial hardship can place enormous pressure on students. Scholarships, emergency financial assistance, accommodation support and other welfare programmes could help reduce some of the burdens that make an already difficult academic journey even harder. Therefore, assistance should be made readily available in these key areas.
In addition, Create Confidential Channels for Students in Distress.
Some students may be unwilling to approach a lecturer, school authority or colleague directly. There should therefore be confidential channels through which students can seek help or report concerns about a colleague who may be struggling.
Also, Encourage a Culture of Compassion within Legal Education.
Academic excellence should not come at the expense of human life. Law students should be encouraged to support one another, and institutions should create environments where students can speak about genuine difficulties without being mocked, labelled or treated as weak.
Moreso, Establish an Emergency Response System.
There should be a clear and accessible procedure for a quick response when a student is considered to be at immediate risk. Staff and student representatives should receive basic training on how to respond appropriately and connect the affected person with professional help.
In all, we should not wait for another painful story before we act. Prevention is better than mourning. A student who is struggling should be able to find a helping hand before their situation becomes a crisis.
I respectfully urge Your Excellency to give this matter the urgent attention it deserves and to support the creation of a coordinated mental-health and welfare framework for law students across Lagos State.
Every student deserves the opportunity to complete their education, build a future and contribute meaningfully to society. With the right support, many young people who are currently overwhelmed can regain hope and continue their journey.
Your Excellency, let us make it easier for a struggling student to ask for help and harder for that student to feel alone. May the Government of Lagos State lead the way in making the mental well-being of students a serious part of public policy.
Yours faithfully,
Dickson Chinma Ihejirika (Mrs),
Founding Editor, Trending Gists and Communication Network, TGCN.
www.trendgistnetwork.com
+2348029432776
10/8/2026
