Origami Society Nigeria recently held its fourth annual “Origami in Mental Health” program. It emphasized the importance of mental health and mindfulness and urged people to prioritize these for optimal productivity in life and work. This year’s event was a collaboration with the Nigerian Army and Deloitte Nigeria, appropriately themed ‘Work-well: Mindfulness and mental health for peak productivity’, and was earmarked to coincide with the 2024 International Mental Health Day.
The program was unique, navigating virtual and physical spaces. A virtual conference kicked off the ceremonies, hosting participants from within Nigeria as well as from the greater international community. Amy Tuttle, a well-regarded mindfulness expert from Cincinnati, delivered the keynote speech. She highlighted the central role that mindfulness plays in mental health, and suggested everyday solutions to increase mindfulness, such as dance, meditation, and origami.
Origami, an ancient Japanese technique of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures, has been proven to offer therapeutic benefits. Dr. John Adenle, the chairman of the Origami Society, promoted origami as an instrumental tool in practicing mindfulness. He highlighted this creative outlet as a vital method for keeping the mind active, mitigating stress, promoting unity, and nourishing a sense of community within various institutions and neighbourhoods.
The healing properties of origami, according to Dr. Adenle, are product of the release of endorphins during the creation of origami sculptures. These specific endorphins, such as dopamine, uplift mood, improve attention and concentration, and boost creativity levels.
To prove these claims, Oluwatobi Sodimu, the founder of the society, led a session demonstrating how participants could experience the therapeutic benefits of origami first-hand.
The Nigerian Army expressed support for the initiative, demonstrating a commitment to the mental health and well-being of their personnel. Lt. B.T. Rotimi, the acting Commanding Officer Admin of the Nigerian Army band, reiterated this pledge. He specifically mentioned the implementation of mental health policies, provision of mental health clinics at army hospitals, and the potential partnership with the Origami Society to pioneer more innovative and reinvigorating approaches to mental health in the army.
Dr. A. A. Sulaiman accentuated the influence of mental well-being on productivity within institutions and nations. Mrs. Yinka Enahoro, the event’s moderator, facilitated the question-and-answer portion of the event, ensuring participants had a clear understanding of the day’s discussions.
The online conference was followed by a hands-on origami session for officers of the Nigerian Army at the Albalti Barracks Ojuelegba in Lagos. Moreover, Deloitte Nigeria invited the Origami Society to the Civic Towers in Lagos. The medical director of Deloitte, Dr. Obadeyi, engaged the Origami Society, ensuring the provision of free instructional materials for participants to continue practicing origami post-session.
This annual event underscores the advocacy for mental health with unique approaches like origami, emphasizing its relevance in promoting mindfulness and mental health for optimal productivity. The push for these principles to be ingrained in workplaces indicates a promising future for mental health in Nigeria. Origami, seen here as an innovative and effective technique to enhance mental well-being, truly transcends its definition as merely the Japanese art of paper folding.
