By Joyce Ekeh
Prof. Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, former President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), has been elected President-Elect of the African Association of Psychiatrists and Allied Professions (AAPAP).
Sheikh’s election took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and was hailed by psychiatrists and colleagues as recognition of his longstanding contributions to mental healthcare, research, advocacy and professional development in Nigeria and across Africa.
President of the APN, Dr Oluyemisi Nyamali, described the development as a testament to Sheikh’s dedication to mental health and service delivery.
She said, “The reward for good work is even more work, Sir. This is only the beginning of greater achievements, greater impact, and more remarkable contributions to come.”
Nyamali added: “The world awaits your greater impact. Prof. T. L. Sheikh to the world!”
In a separate congratulatory message, Dr Johnbosco Chukwuorji described the election as “a remarkable achievement and a well-deserved recognition” of Sheikh’s leadership and commitment to improving mental wellbeing across Africa.
He said, “May this new responsibility open even greater opportunities to influence positive change, strengthen mental healthcare across the continent, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of psychiatry and public health in Africa.”
Also celebrating the development, Prof. AG Ahmed conferred on Sheikh the honorary title, “Chairman of the Board,” in recognition of his extensive contributions to psychiatry and institution building.
Ahmed said Sheikh had progressed from an accomplished clinician and scholar to “a builder of institutions, mentor of generations, architect of policy and convener of the African mental health community.”
Professor Sheikh is a Professor of Psychiatry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an alumnus and faculty member of the Harvard Global Mental Health Course. He obtained his MBBS from Ahmadu Bello University in 1985 and an M.Sc. in Clinical Pharmacology from the same institution in 1992. He is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians and has served as Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, for eight years.
He has also held several leadership positions within the psychiatric profession, including President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Chairman of the Faculty of Psychiatry of the West African College of Physicians and President of the Biological Psychiatry Society of Nigeria. He has been involved in the training and mentorship of mental health professionals across West Africa and has served as an examiner and faculty member in professional medical institutions.
Professor Sheikh has also played a significant role in Nigeria’s mental health reforms, including the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. He was part of the technical group that revised Nigeria’s National Mental Health Service Delivery Policy, adopted in 2013, and led efforts that culminated in the reform of the country’s mental health legislation in 2022. The legislation represented a major shift from the colonial-era Lunacy Act and established a modern framework for mental healthcare in Nigeria.
Beyond policy, Sheikh has been deeply involved in training and mentoring mental health professionals across West Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he collaborated with mental health organisations in Nigeria to establish COVID-19 Mental Health Partners, which provided remote mental health and psychosocial support to patients and training for healthcare workers. He has also worked with internally displaced persons affected by violent conflicts in Northern Nigeria and contributed to the development of culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions for victims of insurgency.
At the continental level, Sheikh is a member of the African Union High-Level Advisory Committee to Africa CDC on non-communicable diseases, mental health and injuries. He has also collaborated with researchers in Africa and Europe on the genetics of depressive disorders among African populations.
Ahmed noted that Sheikh’s career had spanned clinical practice, professional education, research, mental health legislation, suicide prevention, humanitarian interventions and continental leadership.
According to him, Sheikh’s record demonstrates a progression from an accomplished clinician and scholar to “a builder of institutions, mentor of generations, architect of policy and convener of the African mental health community.”
In his tribute titled, “Prof Taiwo Lateef Sheikh: Chairman of the Board,” Ahmed said the honorary title was inspired by the idea of leadership extending beyond individual achievement.
He drew a parallel with legendary musician Frank Sinatra, who was known as “Chairman of the Board” after establishing Reprise Records and becoming an influential figure in the music industry.
Ahmed stressed that the comparison was limited to the meaning of the title, saying Sheikh had similarly moved beyond personal achievement to build institutions and create opportunities for others to advance.
“Prof Sheikh has earned the title through service, conferred with admiration and supported by a record of leadership that is both extensive and verifiable,” Ahmed said.
He congratulated Sheikh and expressed hope that his continental leadership would further unite African psychiatry, strengthen mental health systems, promote the dignity and rights of patients and families, and inspire a new generation of African mental health leaders.
Sheikh is a recipient of several awards and honours, including the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Merit Award for Services to Humanity.
