The Kilimanjaro Challange
From September 14th to 24th, 2024, the Chairman of Behavioral Health Institute, Tonye Cole will be embarking on an expedition to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of an initiative to raise awareness about behavioral and mental health among youths.
Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is Africa’s highest peak, standing tall at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). Known as the “Roof of Africa,” this majestic mountain is a dormant volcano with three distinct cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kilimanjaro is famous for its snow-capped summit, despite being situated near the equator. It attracts adventurers and climbers from around the world, offering diverse ecosystems that range from lush rainforests at its base to alpine deserts and glaciers near the summit. Climbing Kilimanjaro is both a physical and mental challenge, a journey that symbolizes endurance, resilience, and triumph.
Tonye Cole will
STEP UP and STAND TALL on this mountain for a good cause.
THE MAN,
THE MISSION
TONYE P. COLE
The Kilimanjaro Challenge aims to raise N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) to provide behavioral and mental therapy to 1,000 underprivileged youths aged 16-40 from October to December 2024 across Nigeria.
Mental health has always been a cause close to Tonye Cole’s heart. The statistics encountered are alarming—there is only one behavioral or mental health practitioner for every 1,000,000 citizens in Nigeria. This acute shortage of professionals leaves many without the help they need.
Throughout his journey, the entire process will be documented, and we are thrilled to have you join him on this important mission.
Mental Health Matters!
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
WHAT
YOUR
SUPPORT
WILL
ACHIEVE
Provide access to FREE behavioral and mental therapy for 1,000 underprivileged youths across Nigeria
Support the creation of a stigma-free environment for mental health conversations and treatments
BECOME
PART OF
THE
CHANGE
This climb is more than just a personal challenge; it’s a call to action for all of us to come together and address the mental health crisis affecting Nigeria’s youth. By donating, you are helping turn this vision into a reality.
HOW TO
SUPPORT
DONATE: Every contribution makes a difference. Your support will go directly to providing mental health therapy for underprivileged youths.
SHARE: Spread the word about this challenge and inspire others to get involved.
Donate Now and Help Us Reach the Summit of Hope
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (BHI)
BHI was founded in 2019 by Tonye Patrick Cole.
It’s mission is to improve access to mental health care through technology and enhance understanding of behavioral health disorders through research, training, and capacity building to ensure prevention and treatment in a stigma-free and friendly environment.
The Institute envisions a nation where the roots of behavioral health disorders are understood, then prevented and people living with mental health disorders receive quality care and treatment.
Mental health has always been a cause close to Tonye Cole’s heart. The statistics encountered are alarming—there is only one behavioral or mental health practitioner for every 1,000,000 citizens in Nigeria. This acute shortage of professionals leaves many without the help they need.
Throughout his journey, the entire process will be documented, and we are thrilled to have you join him on this important mission.
Mental Health Matters!
Get Free Mental Health Therapy – Take the First Step Toward Healing Today
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MEET THE TRUSTEES OF
BHI
TONYE COLE
Tonye Patrick Cole, mni was born on the 11th of January 1967 in Port Harcourt, Rivers Sate. He attended All Saints Church School, Ibadan and Corona School Victoria Island, Lagos. Then King’s College Lagos and King’s School Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. He also attended University of Lagos, graduating with B.Es/B.Arch merit honours in Architecture 1990. Furthermore, he is an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Harvard Business School’s Advance Management Program (AMP186), and Fellow, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford. His National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was in Osun State.
Tonye Cole is co-founder of Sahara Group, an energy conglomerate founded in 1996 and present in 42 countries. In 2018, he resigned as the Group Executive Director to contest for the office of Governor of his home state, Rivers State. He emerged as the flag bearer and Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 and again in the 2023 general elections.
Dr. SLYVIA COLE
Dr Cole is a Consultant Physician Anaesthetist with a special interest in intensive care. She qualified as doctor from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. During her undergraduate years, she pursued electives and observer roles at the National University of Singapore where she focused on tropical medicine. She holds a Diploma in Anaesthesia and trained as a resident Anasthetist in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, then moved to the United Kingdom where she continued training under the Stoke on Trent School of Anaesthesia, covering district and general hospitals in Staffordshire and the West Midlands culminating in the award of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, in 2009. She is certified in obstetric life support (MOET), trauma life support (ATLS), advanced peadiatric life support (APLS) and is an instructor in Advanced Life Support. She is also a trained data protection officer.
She also holds an OMP 21 (Owner manager program ) from the esteemed Lagos Business School. She served as the vice president of her class for 2 years.
Upon her return to Nigeria in 2012, Dr Cole’s portfolio has enlarged as she now oversees both clinical, administrative business and strategic roles. A partner in Paelon Memorial Hospital she is the DPO data protection officer of the hospital.
She also lectures and speaks extensively on these subject matters at local and international academic and professional events.
Dr. LANRE OLUSOLA – THE CATALYST
Dr. Lanre Olusola, popularly known as The Catalyst is the Founder of LCAN(Life Coaches Association of Nigeria), OLCA Coaching Ltd a premier academy, CSoF(Catalyst School of Futurists) and OLMed Foundation amongst other transformational platforms.
Dr Lanre is a renowned expert in Integrative Coaching and Transformational Catalysis, with a distinguished career that includes extensive publications, writing, provocative interviews, and impactful keynote speaking engagements.
His transformative work with industry leaders, executives, and world-class organizations such as WHO, DFID, UNICEF, UN and the World Bank, alongside his contributions to government initiatives, has cemented his reputation as a thought leader.
Dr. ONYEDIKACHI (KACHI) EKWERIKE
Dr. Onyedikachi (Kachi) Ekwerike is a leadership lecturer at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia. He earned a Ph.D. in Leadership Communication from Kansas State University. As a leadership educator, Kachi’s expertise is at the intersection of Inclusive Leadership, Organizational Culture, and Community Engagement.
Kachi is also a mental health advocate. He has over seven years of global leadership experience, leading change in the nonprofit sector. He is the founder of Postpartum Support Network Africa, a leading maternal mental health organization in Nigeria. Before transitioning to leadership education, Kachi worked as a consultant clinical psychologist.
He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and specializes in mood and anxiety disorders. Kachi’s leadership in the nonprofit sector inspired his interest in leadership education. He is passionate about helping people develop leadership capacity
Dr. CHIADIKOBI NDU
Chiadi Ndu was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987 but passion for mental health overtook the study of law and she went back to the University of Lagos to study psychology. She has since obtained a Doctorate degree in Psychology. She has concluded various continuing professional developmental training programs with the Institute of Counselling Glasgow, Beck Institute of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy amongst others.
She founded BTH Integrated Wellness and Therapy in 2012 and has completed over 10,000hours of professional counselling and psychotherapy. She has worked as an affiliate of various international employee assistance service providers including CiC ( United Kingdom), Life Assist( South Africa) and Workplace Options Inc.
On this platform, she has facilitated various employee assistance training workshops especially in the area of Stress Management and Mental health awareness. Chiadi has also provided therapeutic services for employees of various multinational companies including MTN, C& I Leasing Plc, ExxonMobil, Total, Andela, and UBA plc.
Dr. OGONNAYA NDUPU
Dr. Ogonnaya Ndupu, also known as Naya Ndupu, is a distinguished consultant psychiatrist and psychologist with a stellar reputation in the field of mental health. With over two decades of experience, she holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Lagos (Unilag), as well as credentials including Fellow of the Medical College of Psychiatrists (FMCPSYCH) and multiple master’s degrees in Managerial Psychology from the University of Lagos (Unilag) and Psychology from the UK.
In addition to several certifications in healthcare management.
Dr. Ndupu is deeply committed to raising awareness about mental health issues. Her dedication to this cause led her to initiate a weekly mental health radio talk on Inspiration 92.3FM, where she shares valuable insights and expertise with the public.
Dr. MAY,
Dr. MAYMUNAH YUSUF KADIRI (aka DR. MAY) “The Celebrity Shrink,” is a multiple award-winningMental Health Physician, Advocate & Coach.She is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-In-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Nigeria’s leading and foremost Psychology and Mental health center and a Fellow of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych) with almost 20 years’ experience as a practicing Physician.
She is a trained and certified Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist from Albert Ellis Institute, New York, USA and a certified Trauma Counsellor and Neurofeedback Practitioner with a Masters in Digital Healthcare from Barcelona Technology School and Universität de Barcelona.
She founded Pinnacle Health Radio, Africa’s #1 online health radio, and a not-for-profit organization, “Pinnacle Medicals SPEAKOUT Initiative.” She is the Executive producer of award-winning movies, Pepper Soup(focused on drug abuse) and Little Drops of Happy (focused on depression, postpartum depression, and suicide.) she is also the creator of the most innovative mental health app in Africa, HOW BODI which is a cutting-edge telemedicine app, harnessing the power of technology to bring mental health care into the digital age, ensuring that support is accessible to all, regardless of location. A trailblazer and an innovator, she is married with three lovely children.
DR DOROTHY JEFF-NNAMANI
Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani is a leading physician in public health with expertise in developing sustainable health programs, community-oriented policies, and management protocols for efficient health care delivery systems. Dr. Dorothy has over 20 years’ experience in managing large and complex health care programs, and an in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian health sector which she acquired through rigorous research, programming, and her managerial experiences.
Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, Healthcare financing, Public Health interventions, Project management, Healthcare quality, Strategic leadership, Health Advocacy, and Initiatives (Mental Health, Patients Right), Innovation, and Global partnerships.
Dr. Dorothy holds an M.B.B.S in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nsukka, Nigeria, MPH degree from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, and an M.Sc. in Infectious Diseases, from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. She is a member of the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council (MDCN), Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, American Association for Physician Leaders.
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