What happens when a woman decides to dedicate her voice, time and energy to a conversation that society often finds uncomfortable? For Halima Layeni, the answer is simple: a movement begins.
In a world where men are frequently expected to be strong, suppress their emotions and deal with their struggles silently, Halima is challenging that narrative. Through her advocacy, she is making room for conversations about men’s mental health, emotional well-being and the importance of seeking support.
Halima is a Men’s Mental Health Advocate and the Founder and Executive Director of the Life After Abuse Foundation (LAAF), a non-profit organisation committed to providing education, mentorship and mental health support to boys and men across the world.
Her journey is rooted in a powerful belief that mental health support should not be limited by gender and that men, too, deserve safe spaces to speak, heal and receive help without judgement.
Under her leadership, Life After Abuse Foundation has reached and empowered more than 20,000 individuals across 10 countries. Through school outreaches, community programmes, organisational partnerships, policy engagement and media advocacy, the foundation continues to challenge harmful stereotypes and encourage a more inclusive approach to mental healthcare.
But Halima’s work does not stop at creating awareness. She is also taking the conversation to places where decisions are made.
In 2024, she hosted the Governor of Lagos State at a Life After Abuse Foundation event, where he advocated for the mental health rights of men. She also facilitated a motion at the Lagos State House of Assembly for the establishment of what would be the state’s inaugural Ministry of Men’s Affairs. These efforts reflect her commitment to moving conversations beyond social media and awareness campaigns into policy discussions and institutional action.
Her influence has also extended beyond Nigeria, attracting attention from international organisations and media platforms. She has been featured by the BBC, VoyageLA, Global Strat View, Initiative Africa, Vanguard, Punch and ThisDay, among others.
Her book, Dear Man: If You Carry The Weight, This Is Your Invitation, speaks to men’s emotional experiences and invites them to acknowledge the weight they carry rather than suffer in silence.
Halima’s dedication has earned her several recognitions, including the 2017 F. John Bray US Consul General Fellow of the Year Award, Nigerian Volunteers Award in 2021, Change.org We Create Change Changemaker in 2022, Donors for Africa’s African Women in Development Award in 2023, and Humanitarian of the Year Award by Hexa Media Africa in 2024.
In 2025, she became an Indrani Fellow under Every Woman Treaty. That same year, she was recognised as the Best Men’s Psychological Support Provider. Her achievements continued in 2026 with selections as a TheBoardroom Africa EMERGE Leader, a Wild Network Leadership for Social Impact Fellow and a Global Health Fellow.
Beyond the awards, fellowships, and public recognition, she is a woman committed to changing how society understands masculinity and mental health. Her work reminds us that advocating for men does not take away from the struggles of women. Rather, it recognises that emotional wellbeing is a human concern and that everyone deserves access to care and support.
As Pride Magazine Nigeria celebrates Halima Layeni for this Woman Crush Wednesday, we recognise a woman who is using her platform to amplify an often-overlooked conversation, challenge societal expectations and push for meaningful change.