To provide succour for the depressed, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Brands Optimal Limited, Otis Ojeikhoa, has launched Arogi Trauma Care Foundation in commemoration of his 50th birthday anniversary.
Arogi Trauma Care Foundation, a Non for profit organisation was established in April 2022 to provide free counselling and therapy to individuals experiencing emotional, and psychological traumas.
The event which had dignitaries from different walks of life in attendance was held at Marriot Hotel, GRA, Lagos State last Saturday.
Ojeikhoa said the vision to provide free succour to hurting people was borne out of his personal experience and he was able to come out of depression because he sought help at some point.
He said that statistics have shown that hundreds of people are traumatised by the day and when the pains become unbearable and unable to get help, some resort to taking their lives.
Since Arogi began operations, it has granted free consultations to over 700 people within and outside Nigeria with 100 people in active therapy both physical and offline.
Speaking at the launch event, the President and Founder of Arogi, Otis Ojeikhoa said, “What we are doing today is to officially launch Arogi into the community as we continue on the path of helping people. Some months ago, myself, Joy Amaka Tim-Ayoola, and Anne Anyawu came together with the vision of putting together an organisation that will help people manage or deal with emotional trauma at no cost. Having been through an emotional phase, I felt that there was a need to have an organisation that will help people in such a difficult emotional period.
“The launch is to officially put our works out there and also to seek support, volunteers, and partnerships because the truth is that we can’t do it all alone and a lot of people out there need our help. Fortunately, we are a bit constrained by resources, if we are able to raise more, we’ll be able to help more people.
“At Arogi, we believe that people shouldn’t suffer alone. Through our toll-free lines, people can call us to help them manage their emotional difficulties and traumatic situations by providing mental health solutions and developing better coping mechanisms.
Ojeikhoa added that the foundation does not only offer therapy sessions for individuals but also helps people get a new life or fresh start by supporting them with job assistance, skill or training acquisition, and financial grants.
As part of activities at the event, there was a fundraising session where participants were urged to fill out their loyalty pledge cards to support the foundation.
Panelists at the launch event include; Andrea Oduobi-Teke, an award-winning media and communications expert, Professor Andrew Zamani, the Director, Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Keffi, and Dr. Charles Umeh, the Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH who spoke on different topics.
Guests were thrilled to a live performance by Nigerian gospel singer, Joy Odiete, better known as Jodie as she serenaded the crowd with her hit single, Kushi Kushi and Count on me.