Praise Ogabi is an author, lawyer and lecturer at the Lagos State University. She tells OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL how she highlights the experiences of women affected by mental health issues through her writing
When did you realise you had interest in writing as a career?
I started writing while in secondary school. It started as an outlet for me because as the first child in my family, I felt so much pressure on me to perform well academically, behave well and generally be above par. Back then, I did not even see myself as a creative person.
So, when did I start to see writing as a career? That was in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when I released my first book titled, Finding Me: My Journey to Wholeness. I started to think about writing as a career after I saw the reaction of readers to the book.
As a lawyer and lecturer, why did you decide to write about psychology?
I could have chosen to write and promote several subjects in the legal field but instead, I decided to focus on mental health. The reason is simple— I am passionate about it. That is because I have watched loved ones face mental health challenges and I have had certain experiences myself. That is why I have chosen to share those experiences with my readers.
You mentioned that your passion for mental health is borne out of personal experiences. How so?
