— Mental health is a psychological construct – VC, Promise Mebine
— an unwell woman cannot empower anyone – WAFUO President
by Ebido Lucky, Head, Publications Unit
The President of Women Association Federal University Otuoke, Mrs. Charity Mebine, resource persons and stakeholders have urged women to balance work with family responsibilities.
They made the call at WAFUO Seminar with the theme “Thriving Not Just Surviving: A Woman’s Guide to Mental Wellness at Work” held on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2026, at the School of Postgraduate Studies Auditorium, West Campus of the University.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Promise Mebine, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Ibebietei Temple Offor, in his opening remarks, while declaring the seminar open, described mental wellness as a psychological construct and a thing of the mind, stressing that there is a difference between being alive and feeling alive.
The Vice Chancellor advised women not to trivialize mental health as the causative factors are getting heighten and urged them to acquire skills to impact positively at work and remain healthy.
In her welcome remarks, the President of WAFUO, Mrs. Charity Mebine, noted that many women are smiling at work but struggling inside and absent in health, emphasizing that women are only surviving, not thriving.
She said an unwell woman cannot empower anyone, adding that to build a stronger university, there is need to first build a strong, healthier woman in line with the time-tested statement, “Educate A Woman And Empower The Nation.”
Speaking on the topic, “Managing Workplace And Emotional Health,” Professor (Mrs.) Onyaye Edger Kunle Olowu of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, said women need to navigate their mental wellbeing in daily life, maintain stress, emotional, psychological and social wellbeing to stay safe and alive.
Professor Onyaye Kunle Olowu listed long commuting to work, heavy workload, money pressure, poor sleep, burnouts as factors that weighs on women.
She urged women to save for the rainy days, eat well, drink enough water, build support circle, acquire skills, have a vision board and make every day count.
The Dean Faculty of Student Affairs, Professor Juliet Bodise-ere Teibowei, in her presentation on the topic, “Finding Peace In The Midst Of Workplace Demands And Family Responsibilities,” described workplace demands as the physical, mental, emotional, social, and organizational requirements of job which requires sustain efforts from an employee.
The Professor of Guidance and Counseling Psychologist advised women to balance work demands with family responsibilities without losing peace in the face of competing priorities.
She advised women to make workload manageable, simple, prioritize task that truly move results, take lunch break, and make a plan for every recurring needs, and know when to seek help.
Professor Teibowei said peace is built through small repeated choices and decisions, and charged women not to overstress themselves over work, family as both will continue if one drops dead.
Nominations for new Exco members of WAFUO were made as the current tenure of the serving executives gradually winds down, with election of new members fixed for 17th October, 2026.
The WAFUO Seminar featured drama presentation by students of Faculty of Humanities, health checks, karaoke presentation by the University Public Relations Officer, Mercy Ekott, a Deputy Director, tying of Egele competition, among others.
The climax of the seminar was the dancing of women with the President of WAFUO, Mrs. Charity Mebine, who is the wife of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Promise Mebine.
A member of the steering committee of the seminar, Professor Hamilton Amachree, gave the vote of thanks and described women as the stabilizing factor in the workplace, family and enjoined them to support one another.
She thanked the resource persons for their insightful presentations and expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Promise Mebine, and everyone that contributed in one way or the other to the success of the seminar.
