The Friends Advocacy for Mental Health Initiative (FAM) has organised its fifth edition of Art Xplosion to promote creativity, mental health awareness and social inclusion among children.
The initiative brought together children from different social backgrounds, age groups and abilities to explore their creative talents through artistic expression and social interaction.
The founder and Executive Director of FAM Initiative, Miss Jacinta Egbim, said the programme had evolved beyond recreational artistic activities into a vital platform for youth empowerment.
Egbim, who is also the Project Coordinator of Art Xplosion, spoke on the sideline of the event on Saturday, at the JPEC Academy, Zaria, Kaduna State.
She said the initiative provided opportunities for children to develop empathy, self-awareness, emotional expression and improved help-seeking behaviour.
She explained that the fifth edition featured the Prof. AbdulLatif Sheikh Mental Health Corner to strengthen the programme’s mental health component.
According to her, the initiative creates meaningful social connections among children while providing an inclusive environment for learning and self-discovery.
Egbim said the organisation’s commitment to including children with special needs became deliberate during its second edition.
She recalled that a girl, Naima Bello, initially attended the programme with her sisters but quickly became interested in the creative activities.
“Since then, it has been a very intentional journey of ensuring that children with non-visible disabilities are fully included,” she said.
She explained that children with conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were often misunderstood due to their unique learning processes.
Egbim said using art to promote awareness had strengthened the organisation’s commitment to genuine social inclusion.
Also speaking, Mrs Aisha Ahmad, founder of Nurture Special Education Needs Foundation, said she participated as the artist’ lead and supported the safeguarding team.
Ahmad said the programme would foster acceptance, enabling children with special needs to feel valued within society and their classrooms.
“When the community includes them in social activities, they feel less excluded and more confident about learning,” she said.
A teacher at Strong Tower Academy, Mr Jibrin Muhammad, expressed delight over the participation of his special-needs students, noting their enthusiasm.
He urged parents not to keep children with special needs indoors, but to expose them to education, vocational training and social activities.
A parent, Mrs Hadiza Muhammad, commended the organisers for creating an environment where children could interact and express themselves freely.
One of the participants, Favour Iduh of Strong Tower Academy, who moulded different colours together to create an artwork, expressed joy for participating in the programme.
The feeling was no different for Aidha Awwal, another participant who could not hide her joy saying “I have painted a paper plate with different colours and drew hearts alongside her name,”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day event was themed: “Body, Mind and Soul: Mediums for Expression, Introspection, Creation.”
NAN also reports that the programme was organised in partnership with SDI Multipurpose Concept, JPEC Chimel Academy, Female Artist Association of Nigeria and YANDYTECH, among others. (NAN)
