Leadership communication the missing link in Nigeria’s workplace – Oluwadamilola Ajayi

In a powerful call to action, media professional and mental wellness advocate, Oluwadamilola Ajayi, has challenged Nigerian leaders to place mental health at the core of workplace culture, arguing that emotional well-being is a critical but often overlooked factor in the country’s leadership crisis.

“We don’t talk enough about mental health in Nigerian workplaces,” Ajayi stated. “And when we do, it’s usually just a buzzword thrown around at HR conferences or printed on banners during themed awareness months.”

According to Ajayi, the post-pandemic world revealed glimpses of what balanced work could look like remote jobs, flexible schedules, and a new consciousness about mental wellness. However, many Nigerian workplaces quickly reverted to old patterns, ignoring the emotional toll of daily stressors like gruelling commutes, toxic work culture, and chronic overwork.

At the heart of the problem, she says, is a leadership system that equates vulnerability with weakness. “People are scared to admit they’re overwhelmed or exhausted because they don’t want to be labeled as inefficient or unserious,” she noted. “So they bottle it up, smiling through stress, hiding anxiety, and suppressing burnout until it explodes.”

Ajayi argues that true workplace wellness requires more than symbolic “mental health days” or empty slogans. Instead, she proposes tangible solutions such as regular engagement with licensed mental health professionals, psychologically safe spaces where employees can speak freely, and a clear boundary between work and personal time.

“An 8–5 job should be just that not 8–8, and certainly not with late-night WhatsApp messages that guilt employees into working past their boundaries,” she stressed.

Beyond employee responsibility, Ajayi emphasizes that leaders must take the lead in modeling balance and emotional intelligence. “In Nigeria, we need leaders who model balance, not burnout,” she said. “The tone is always set from the top.”

She also pushed back against the idea that mental health awareness is a “Western fad,” saying, “Mental health conversations are not a Western fad they’re a global necessity.”

As the nation continues to battle economic hardship, insecurity, and high levels of unemployment, Ajayi believes the workplace should serve as a space of stability, not added pressure. Her message is clear: Nigerian companies must evolve from outdated leadership ideals and embrace empathy, structure, and support if they want to build resilient, high-performing teams.

“No one can pour from an empty cup,” she concluded. “If we want more innovation, loyalty, and excellence, we must first ensure people are healthy emotionally and mentally.”