Mental Health
Student chapters for the ones who still feel lost
Tijani Shehu Ahmad is building The Inner Compass Project, a youth-centred mental wellness initiative which is in early expansion with its first local chapters in Kwara State and Sokoto State, and a long-term plan for student-led chapters across universities in Africa.
Two chapters are already active. Kwara State has one. Sokoto State has the other. That is where The Inner Compass Project stands right now: still in the building stage, Tijani Shehu Ahmad says, but already more than an idea. In both places the chapters are creating communities that encourage meaningful conversations, connection and personal development, while learning what young people truly need.
The Inner Compass Project is a youth-centred initiative focused on mental wellness, personal growth, purposeful living and building supportive communities for students and young people. He is a recent university graduate himself.
The idea came from something he kept seeing as a student and student leader. "Many young people are doing everything expected of them academically but still feel lost, overwhelmed, or uncertain about their direction," he says. "There are many conversations about success, but not enough spaces for reflection, emotional wellbeing, and intentional growth."
He cares about this, he says, because "people thrive when they understand themselves, feel supported, and have spaces that encourage growth beyond academics and survival."
Long term, the vision is bigger. He wants to grow The Inner Compass Project into a network of student-led chapters across universities in Africa, creating accessible spaces for mentorship, for growth and for community.
Success right now, he says, is "building something meaningful that can grow sustainably and help more young people move through life with greater clarity, purpose, and support."