The Oyo State government has pledged to continue encouraging human capacity development and intellectual endeavours in areas of knowledge that will be of benefit to the people of the state.
Speaking at the launch of a book, ‘Concise Knowledge of Layman in Psychiatry’ authored by Dr Adeniyi Lawal, Head of Department (HOD), General Studies, Oyo State College of Technology, the Oyo State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Abduwaheed Saliu, commended the author for the addition to knowledge in the field of psychiatry.
Saliu, who was represented by Mr Adeoti Olaleru of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the Oyo State government under the leadership of Engineer Oluwaseyi Makinde, would give priority to research in the field of psychiatry, which he noted was very wide.
His words: “We live in a world full of misconceptions and myths about psychiatry and welcome the publication of a book that is addressed to the layman.
He said the book would fill the gap left by many psychiatric titles that were not tailored to meet the needs of those who might not be familiar with the nitty gritty of the field.
Also speaking at the occasion the Provost of Oyo State College of Science and Technology, Mrs. Oyewo Moradeke, stated that “mental health is a universal human right that everyone, regardless of age, socio-economic class or background should have access to high quality mental health.”
She appealed to the state government to include the study of psychiatry in secondary and tertiary schools’ curricula.
Speaking with the media, the author, Dr Lawal, who is also the Founder of Emmanuel Rehabilitation Centre for the Mentally Ill People’, said he was led to write the book because of his compassion in finding solutions to the growing number of mentally challenged people in the society.
