Talking About Stress To Nigerians Used To Be Like Speaking Greek Language, Says Dr Akpe

A United Kingdom-based Biomedical Scientist and Global Stress Management Consultant, Dr. Emmanuel Akpe, has said that in recent times, Nigerians have changed their attitude towards stress management.

According to Dr Akpe, who is building a global stress management movement, he was not just addressing stress, he was redefining it with a unique blend of medical science and a holistic approach to stress management.

The Nigerian-born stress and mental health expert, who had also worked in Abuja before relocating to the UK, said stress and mental health crises were at an all-time high.

He said his mission was to equip individuals and organisations with the tools to manage stress, build resilience, and thrive—both personally and professionally.

Dr. Akpe, who worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, said while his role centred on biomedical science, he noticed a silent epidemic: chronic stress, often dismissed as “normal and not a threat to life”.

He said many of his clients were always sick and regular in the clinic and were not ready to admit that stress was contributing to thier illness.

“Back then, talking about stress was like speaking Greek (language) to Nigerians,” he recalled.

“People would say, ‘Nigerians don’t get stressed—we’re strong and always happy!’ But in clinics, I saw high blood pressure, burnout, and anxiety which were all related to the inability to manage stress – especially work related-stress. The denial was a major part of the problem,” he said.

Dr. Akpe said he has launched a nationwide stress management campaign, leveraging radio, television and social media, adding that he reached over 20 million Nigerians, trained professionals in hospitals, schools, and corporate organisations, and became a frequent voice on national media, including appearances in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

“Today, stress management is no longer a foreign concept in Nigeria but something everyone is aware of. A 2022 study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that 1 in 4 Nigerians (25%) suffers from mental health conditions, with stress being a leading contributor.

“My early advocacy laid the foundation for a crucial shift in awareness about stress and its impact in individuals and organisations. In 2021, i was a guest at the International Pastors Conference organised by Church of God Mission International where i trained over 9000 pastors at the instance of Arch. Margaret Benson Idahosa.

“This was a major launch pad that brought over a hundred invitations both in Nigeria and outside the country. The rest as they said is history,” he stated.

He said he took his expertise to the United Kingdom, relaunching TSM Wellness Limited (UK) with a focus on combating burnout, poor work-life balance, and stress-related illnesses among professionals and entrepreneurs in the UK and beyond, partnering with The Growth Hub, UK.

At the moment, he said he was pioneering workplace stress management strategies for small business owners in Gloucestershire County Council.

“A Message for Nigeria and the World

“Stress is like oxygen. It is invisible, yet vital. Ignore it, and you suffocate slowly,” Dr. Akpe says. “My vision is simple: to help people breathe again, to restore their energy, health, and joy. Because when stress is managed, societies becomes better.

“Today, what began as a lone voice in Abuja has become a global movement and for me, the mission remains unchanged: to heal the world, one stress-free mind at a time,” Dr. Akpe stated.