Renowned Nigerian mental health advocate Dr. Emmanuel Ahmadu has been named the recipient of the 2025 Valeria Harper Cultural Competence in Mental Health Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S.
Ahmadu will receive the award at NAMI Greater Cleveland’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on May 1, 2025, in Ohio.
Ahmadu, known as “Mr. Voiceover,” overcame personal challenges, including failing his West African school exams 17 times, to become a leading voice in mental health advocacy. He has spearheaded mental health and resilience programs across Nigeria and the U.S., focusing on youth and suicide prevention.
“This award is a call to greater responsibility,” Ahmadu said. “Millions of young people globally face mental health struggles in silence due to stigma and lack of awareness.”
Ahmadu’s work includes the Resilience Rise Mental Health Tour in Nigeria and grassroots intervention efforts in Cleveland, Ohio. He plans to expand his influence through policy advisory roles and partnerships with governments and institutions to improve mental health infrastructure and support.
