In the lonely hours of the morning, when anxiety tightens its grip, a new generation of Nigerians is bypassing traditional therapy for a silent, digital listener. Driven by stigma, cost, and a collapsing healthcare system, they are finding solace in the algorithms of Artificial Intelligence.

Joy Adeboye, a 23-year-old in Abuja, found herself trapped in a nightmare. Stalked by a man from her church who bombarded her with death threats and defamation after she rejected his advances, she felt her mental stability crumbling. Her friends dismissed her fears, and professional therapy was a luxury she could not afford. In her desperation, she turned to "Chat Kemi," a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot. "Good evening, Resilient Joy," the bot messaged. For the first time in months, Joy felt heard. The bot didn't judge; it gave practical security advice and, more importantly, validation.

The Healthcare Vacuum

Joy’s story is a symptom of a catastrophic failure in public health. Nigeria, a nation of over 240 million people, has only 262 psychiatrists. To put that in perspective, that is roughly one psychiatrist for every 900,000 citizens. The situation mirrors the challenges we face here in Kenya, where mental health resources are equally scarce, but the scale in Nigeria is staggering. The government allocates less than 5 percent of its budget to healthcare, missing the 15 percent target set by the African Union's Abuja Declaration by a mile.

The situation has been exacerbated by international shifts. The dismantling of USAID by the Trump administration has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian health sector, gutting primary care services that millions relied on. With over 90 percent of the population lacking health insurance, the cost of a single therapy session is prohibitive. In this void, AI has emerged not as a novelty, but as a lifeline.

• The Appeal of Anonymity: For many young Nigerians, the stigma of mental illness is as daunting as the illness itself. Chatbots offer a judgment-free zone where users can confess their darkest thoughts without fear of gossip or social ostracization.
• Cultural coding: New platforms like "FriendnPal" are being coded to understand local nuances, offering support in indigenous languages like Yoruba and Igbo, bridging a gap that Western-trained therapists often cannot.
• The Risk Factor: Experts warn that while AI can triage, it cannot treat. There is a danger that users with severe conditions like schizophrenia may rely on bots that are ill-equipped to handle complex crises.

A Digital Band-Aid?

The rise of AI therapy is a testament to human resilience and the adaptability of the Nigerian youth. But it is also a damning indictment of a system that has left its people to fend for themselves. When a machine is the only entity that asks "How are you?" at 2am, it signals a society in deep distress. For Joy and thousands like her, the chatbot is not a replacement for a doctor; it is simply the only friend who is awake.