‘At 2 AM, it seems like someone’s around’: The Rise of Chatbots as a Source of Guidance and Therapy for Nigerians

On a tranquil evening at her hotel in Abuja, Joy Adeboye, a 23-year-old, sits on her bed, phone in hand. Anxiety wraps around her chest as she reads yet another menacing message from her stalker, a man she had met nine months earlier at her church. Initially friendly, his approach had quickly soured when she declined his invitation to date him. Following her rejection, he unleashed a torrent of abusive communications, sending her intimidating messages through social media, spreading falsehoods about her, and even threatening her life.

The mental strain from this harassment is overwhelming, leaving her feeling isolated and anxious. Family and friends to whom she confided her ordeal dismissed her experiences, not truly grasping the severity of her situation. Unable to afford traditional therapy or counseling, Joy felt an escalating sense of despair as she read his cruel messages. In search of solace, she found an alternative: a WhatsApp chatbot named Chat Kemi.

“Good evening, Resilient Joy,” the bot greets her. “How are you today?”
Joy hesitates for a moment before typing back: “Someone is defaming me online and threatening to kill me because I refused to date him. I am depressed and confused. What should I do?”

This chatbot, which Joy learned about at an NGO event focused on combating gender-based violence, recommended that she deactivate her social media accounts and share her situation with someone she trusts. For the first time in months, she felt a flicker of hope and companionship in her struggle.

In the past year, AI platforms designed to provide initial mental health support have arisen significantly, with early trials in the US exhibiting variable results. In Nigeria, where AI has permeated various sectors, a growing community is increasingly turning to chatbots for mental health assistance.

Historically, Nigeria’s health system, including mental health care, has faced chronic underfunding. Over the past decade, Nigeria has consistently allocated less than 5% of its budget to healthcare, with an allocation of 4.2% projected for 2026, notably below the 15% target endorsed by African Union members in the 2001 Abuja Declaration. It remains unclear how many people in Nigeria live with mental health issues, especially given that there are only 262 psychiatrists serving a population of approximately 240 million.

This shortage of mental health professionals has been worsened by various external factors, including the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, which significantly affected healthcare services in Nigeria, especially at the primary level, leading to a dramatic decline in services. With over 90% of Nigerians lacking health insurance, many face anxiety over service availability and rising costs.

Affording private healthcare is no simple matter. Each therapy session can set a person back by about 50,000 naira (£27), potentially equivalent to a week’s worth of groceries for many families. Cultural stigmas surrounding mental health issues complicate matters further, as many Nigerians associate mental illness with spiritual weakness or supernatural influences.

Nonetheless, commercial and non-profit AI initiatives are emerging to address these gaps. One such organization is HerSafeSpace, which provides free, immediate legal and emotional support to victims of technology-facilitated gender-based violence across five West and Central African nations. Its Chat Kemi service is accessible in both local and international languages.

“These services are not substitutes for therapy,” emphasizes the founder, Abideen Olasupo. Instead, the chatbot functions with a referral system to direct users to mental health experts or organizations when necessary.

“Our primary goal is to support young girls, who face heightened vulnerability to gender-based violence, especially online,” he states.

Other Nigerian platforms offering mental health services include FriendnPal, where an AI chatbot provides emotional support and connects users with licensed therapists. This platform additionally features mood tracking tools and psycho-educational resources, including ASMR tools designed to alleviate stress.

Esther Eruchie, the creator of FriendnPal, has designed a pay-as-you-go model that allows users immediate access to personalized therapy sessions, which can include helpful exercises or assessments. This initiative arose from the personal loss she suffered from her mother’s struggles with depression after her 20-year-old brother passed away.

Another platform called Blueroomcare connects clients to licensed therapists through various modes including video, voice, text, and in-app messaging, offering both virtual and in-person outpatient services across Nigeria. They provide free wellness assessments and charge between 5,000 and 51,000 naira for their therapist subscription plans.

“Therapy often came with significant cost barriers, and there weren’t enough professionals to cater to demand,” notes Moses Aiyenuro, who founded Blueroomcare following his personal experiences with depression. “I aspired to create a platform that would reduce the obstacles to accessing care.”

The technology powering these applications relies on scripts devised by licensed Nigerian psychologists and therapists who impart care to the users.

In Lagos, Oluwakemi Oluwakayode, a mother of four, began utilizing FriendnPal’s chatbot after witnessing her eight-year-old daughter suffer regular seizures linked to cerebral palsy.

“Though the replies can sometimes feel generic, I found a space to express feelings I couldn’t share with my family. That alone offered me immense relief,” she shares.

Later on, the chatbot connected her with a qualified therapist, an option she felt would have been out of reach without the initial support from AI.

Dr. Joy Aifuobhokhan, a public health doctor located in Lagos, remarks that the attractiveness of these platforms lies in their affordability and efficiency compared to traditional therapy. “Digital solutions save time spent on travel and waiting in line at consultation centers,” she observes.

However, some experts urge caution regarding the capabilities of AI in providing nuanced care that only a human therapist can deliver. “These platforms draw from established clinical techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness,” remarks Dr. Nihinlola Olowe, a psychologist at Live Still Counseling Services. “They can aid in coping, but they can’t substitute for the depth or discernment of a mental health professional.”

FriendnPal has reportedly conducted over 10,000 therapy sessions in the previous year, while Olasupo states that HerSafeSpace serves 1,600 users across three continents. However, Blueroomcare opted not to disclose its user numbers.

It’s worth noting that quantifying impact solely through user counts poses its own challenges. “The real story lies in user engagement,” Olasupo asserts. “We’re encouraged by users returning to the app time and again instead of merely trying it once.”

For many users, the immediacy and anonymity offered by chatbots are what draw them in, but experts warn that convenience might compromise privacy. Avril Eyewu-Edero, a cybersecurity specialist, warns that sensitive information, including medical histories, may become compromised as soon as it enters an AI system without robust data protection.

“If these startups do not prioritize privacy and encryption from the beginning, user trust may falter. Nigerians are indeed eager, but they remain cautious,” she adds.

The founders of these services are aware of such concerns and often highlight their commitment to implementing end-to-end encryption, utilizing unique identifiers for users or devices without exposing personally identifiable information, and maintaining strict non-disclosure policies, only sharing data in compliance with court orders when necessary.

Medical professionals are now urging the Nigerian government to create enforceable standards for the use of AI in healthcare. Dr. Alero Roberts, a lecturer and public health consultant at the University of Lagos’s medical college, remarks: “While AI chatbots present an innovative approach to mental healthcare, we are treading into precarious territory without stringent regulations.”

“Robots can’t comprehend human emotion in the same way. For individuals undergoing crises—like those experiencing suicidal thoughts or acute psychosis—human interaction is critical. Even a non-professional can identify when immediate intervention is necessary,” she emphasizes. “This crucial element can easily be overlooked with AI; therefore, strong governance is imperative.”

Unlike pharmaceuticals or physical healthcare facilities, AI platforms for mental wellness find themselves in a regulatory limbo. Nigeria’s 2023 Data Protection Act sets basic privacy guidelines but lacks specific legislation governing AI applications in healthcare.

“The primary issue lies in enforcement, not the absence of laws,” asserts Ayotunde Abiodun of SBM Intelligence, a think tank focused on political, economic, and social matters in Nigeria and West Africa.

Babatunde Bamigboye, who heads regulations at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, established under the 2023 legislation, states, “Any use involving personal data must comply with the act. The existing framework emphasizes data ethics, sandbox testing, and risk management. Thus, AI in Nigeria is regulated, albeit not through specific laws tailored to AI.”

As for Oluwakayode in Lagos, she continues to use FriendnPal. One day, she aspires to afford traditional therapy, but for the time being, the chatbot serves as her source of comfort.

“While I understand it’s not a human being,” she reflects, “at 2AM, it feels like there is someone there for me, and that’s enough to keep me going.”