By Shakirudeen Bankole

At a time when Nigeria is silently battling an epidemic of mental health issues, suicide, unresolved trauma, and fractured homes, a groundbreaking creative intervention is helping individuals reclaim their voices and emotional balance, question at a time.

The Table of Thoughts, a spiral-shaped interactive art installation designed by Nigerian artist AbdulJaleel Sodangi, is quietly transforming how people relate to themselves and each other. It has emerged as more than just a sculpture, it is a sanctuary for reflection, storytelling, and healing in a country where stigma often silences emotional suffering.

“The Table of Thoughts is more than a product of African creativity. It is a living proof of what happens when difference is welcomed, not feared,” AbdulJaleel told NigeriaUpdates in an exclusive interview.

AbdulJeleel posing with the Table of Thought

Built on Psychoanalysis and African Humanity

Rooted in Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis and drawing inspiration from Carl Rogers’ person-centered therapy and Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, The Table of Thoughts is not only artistically provocative—it is psychologically grounded.

AbdulJaleel described the installation as “a participatory experience rooted in reflection, community, and unfiltered expression,” not simply an art display but “art for soul work, for societal repair.”

Built upon a humble office table—once the site of private thoughts—the installation is reimagined with laser-engraved prompts etched into a spiral design. These prompts invite visitors to pause, bend, walk, and reflect. In doing so, they reconnect with buried parts of themselves and engage meaningfully with others.

Introspection, said Wilhelm Wundt, the father of psychology, is the only scientific way to access human consciousness. AbdulJaleel’s design leverages this insight to catalyze personal and communal transformation.

The table of Thought being illuminated for a function at night

A Safe Space for Vulnerability and Truth

At events like Urban November, Moeshen Art Gallery’s Christmas Pop-Up, The Assemble Retreat, and Africana Royal Oath, The Table of Thoughts has acted as a “safe zone” for mental relief. Individuals who encounter the table often experience profound breakthroughs.

“At Almat Farms, under moonlight, a woman overwhelmed by illness and financial stress found not just empathy, but practical support,” said AbdulJaleel. “At Moeshen, a man disconnected from his creative self rediscovered purpose.”

“In a household on the brink of divorce, cards from the Table helped a couple reconnect, turning confrontation into reconciliation. This is not anecdotal fluff; it’s therapeutic transformation in action.”

These testimonies reflect Nigeria’s broader mental health emergency. According to the World Health Organization, over 7 million Nigerians suffer from depression, yet fewer than 10% receive appropriate care. Suicide rates remain alarmingly high—17.3 per 100,000 people, one of Africa’s worst.

Meanwhile, the National Demographic and Health Survey reveals that three in ten Nigerian women aged 15–49 have experienced domestic violence. Yet, silence and stigma continue to dominate public discourse.

Healing Beyond the Clinic: Cultural and Community Therapy

AbdulJaleel sees The Table of Thoughts as a cultural technology rather than just a therapeutic tool. It fits within the African tradition of the palaver circle, where community members come together to resolve disputes and reflect on shared experiences.

“Modern Nigerian life—fast, transactional, hyper-connected—has eroded communal support systems,” he said. “The spiral table subtly restores that intimacy. Vulnerability becomes strength.”

The table aligns with Trauma-Informed Care frameworks advocated by experts like Judith Herman and Bessel van der Kolk, who stress that real recovery often comes not from medical diagnosis alone but from embodied, communal, and ritual practices.

“The Table of Thoughts checks all those boxes,” said AbdulJaleel.

AbdulJeleel in a signature photo with the table as the background

Scalable, Inclusive, and Globally Relevant

The table’s relevance goes beyond therapy. Its potential applications are far-reaching:

Corporate Environments: Promoting employee wellness and leadership growth.

Schools and Universities: Helping students navigate stress, anxiety, and identity.

Prisons and Rehabilitation Centers: Supporting emotional reform and reintegration.

Faith-Based Institutions: Encouraging honest conversation beyond doctrine.

It is affordable, adaptable, and scalable, offering a compelling alternative to inaccessible or overly clinical mental health services.

The vision, however, is not just national. AbdulJaleel believes The Table of Thoughts could be a model for regions marred by identity conflict, from India and Israel to Syria and Iran.

“This simple spiral table, born in Africa, offers a subtle blueprint,” he said. “It demonstrates that by designing spaces that encourage listening and honest expression, diversity stops being a fault line and becomes a force for collective growth.”

Bridging Religion, Tribe, and Identity

In its most moving iterations, the table becomes a space where deeply divided identities converge in peace.

“A Muslim woman and a Christian man can reflect on grief together. A Hausa artist and an Igbo entrepreneur can share stories of doubt and triumph,” said AbdulJaleel. “Even a young atheist and an elderly imam can both answer the same question card: ‘In what ways am I a bridge to those who need hope?’”

Final Word: A Call to Institutions

If Nigeria must confront its emotional wounds—from intimate partner violence to youth suicide—AbdulJaleel believes tools like The Table of Thoughts are vital.

“It is not a product to be consumed. It is a process to be experienced,” he said. “Healing doesn’t begin with diagnosis. It begins with permission—permission to feel, to speak, and to be witnessed.”

He called on Ministries of Health and Education, development NGOs, religious organizations, and corporate leaders to take this concept seriously.

“The Table of Thoughts allows people to feel seen, heard, and valued—not as patients, but as human beings.”

In a significant boost to primary healthcare, the Oyo State Government has approved a Homegrown Scheme of Service for Community Nursing Superintendent and Midwifery cadres, creating a clear path for career growth, retention, and improved healthcare delivery across the state.

This approval—covering Grade Levels 06 to 14 in the state civil and public service—is designed to standardize career progression, strengthen grassroots healthcare, and professionalize the role of frontline health workers serving in communities.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, who described the decision as a crucial part of the government’s broader efforts to reform public health systems and invest in human capital.

“The approval is a testament to the government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery and professionalizing the roles of frontline health workers,” Prof. Adelabu stated.

Implementation Begins Immediately

According to the government, the new scheme will be fully integrated into the 2025 Establishments Estimate across all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), allowing for proper recognition, deployment, and budgeting of affected personnel.

“The newly approved Homegrown Scheme of Service outlines a structured career path, with clearly defined duties, qualifications, and promotional prospects for officers in the community nursing and midwifery cadres,” said Prof. Adelabu.

He emphasized that the structure is crafted to promote efficiency, enhance job satisfaction, and ensure long-term retention of trained healthcare professionals in Oyo communities.

The implementation is set to commence immediately, with relevant government agencies coordinating the process, including training, classification, and posting under the new structure.

Government Urges Commitment

The state has called on all officers affected by the reform to view the development as a call for greater professional commitment and service delivery to the people of Oyo State.

“We urge all officers within the newly structured cadres to embrace this development as a platform for renewed commitment, professional advancement, and enhanced service to the people of Oyo State,” the statement added.

The announcement was formally endorsed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, and dated July 19, 2025.

The worsening state of Nigeria’s healthcare sector took centre stage on Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the National Healthcare Summit hosted virtually by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in partnership with the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative (RYNI). Themed “The JAPA Syndrome – Brain Gain or Brain Drain? Navigating the Future of the Nigerian Healthcare Sector,” the summit assembled hundreds of doctors from Nigeria and the diaspora to confront the root causes and solutions to the mass migration of Nigerian medical professionals.

Participants dialled in from across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Middle East for what many described as one of the most intellectually and emotionally stirring health policy conversations of the year.

“JAPA is a National Emergency”

The summit opened with remarks from Dr. Osundara Tope, President of NARD, who described the JAPA trend—referring to the wave of medical professionals leaving Nigeria—as a “national emergency.” He called for strategic collaboration between the government, in-country practitioners, and diaspora professionals to prevent the collapse of the healthcare system.

Dr. Lawson Obazenu, co-host and moderator, as well as CEO of RYNI and a UK-based physician, urged participants to focus on solutions, not blame. “The conversation should move beyond blame to building bridges that convert the brain drain into brain gain,” he stressed.

Federal Government Recognizes Diaspora Doctors as Key Resource

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen (mni), Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, acknowledged the growing outflow of trained doctors and admitted that diaspora professionals remain underleveraged. He committed the ministry to building formal partnerships with Nigerian doctors abroad.

“We must stop seeing diaspora doctors as gone. They are an untapped national resource,” Dr. Salaudeen stated.

He outlined plans for joint medical missions, specialist training schemes, and technology-sharing platforms to bridge the talent gap.

NMA President Warns of Collapse from Within

Prof. Bala Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), gave a sobering assessment of the sector’s state, warning that Nigeria is not just losing doctors but also “mentors, specialists, and future trainers.”

“The system is collapsing from the inside,” he warned.

Prof. Audu condemned the federal government’s decision to send doctors to Saint Lucia amid a worsening domestic shortage, labelling the move “morally unjustifiable.” He also decried Nigeria’s growing reliance on medical tourism, calling it a betrayal of the nation’s potential.

Diaspora Doctors Call for Inclusion, Innovation, and Reform

From the UK, Dr. Elizabeth Fajemirokun, a Consultant Anaesthetist, urged that reforms be doctor-led rather than bureaucratic. She proposed integrating rotations in high-performing private hospitals to boost resident morale and skill acquisition.

Dr. Solomon Oke, President of Nigerian Doctors in the UK (NDUK), shared his personal reasons for leaving Nigeria:

“It was about safety, career structure, and hope. Nigeria didn’t offer that,” he said.

He advocated for digital platforms that would allow diaspora doctors to contribute remotely—ranging from mentoring to virtual consultations.

Similarly, Dr. Babagana Abubakar, a Saudi-based surgeon, noted that individual contributions by diaspora doctors are hindered by systemic challenges. He called for formalized partnerships between governments and the diaspora through exchange programs and medical missions.

“Let the Fire of Transformation Burn Across Nigeria”

In closing, Dr. Lawson Obazenu emphasized that the narrative around JAPA must shift.

“The narrative has changed. From JAPA to return, from brain drain to brain gain—this is our movement. Let us light the fire of transformation, and let it burn across every hospital, every state, and every diaspora corner of the globe,” he said.

What’s Next?

Speakers at the summit unanimously agreed that while the JAPA phenomenon is not inherently bad, its current trajectory poses a grave threat without national direction. Key resolutions from the summit included:

Healthcare financing reforms

Improved working conditions

Enhanced residency training programs

Partnerships with diaspora doctors

Merit-based career advancement paths

The summit closed with a united call for action: policymakers, professionals, and diaspora communities must come together to rebuild a healthcare system Nigerians can trust—and choose to serve in.