Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri expands mental health access through advocacy, digital therapy, and clinical innovation.
Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri has spent nearly two decades proving that mental health deserves a voice as loud as any other issue in public health. Known widely as “The Celebrity Shrink,” she is one of Nigeria’s most recognised psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and mental health advocates, as her work has redefined how Africans approach psychological care.
Kadiri is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, a leading mental health and wellness centre she founded in 2011. The centre provides 24-hour psychiatric, psychological, and emotional wellness services and has directly impacted more than 250,000 lives through clinical care, counselling, rehabilitation, and occupational health programs.
Her goal has always been to make mental health care accessible, professional, and stigma-free for everyone. Under her leadership, Pinnacle has grown into a model for culturally sensitive mental health practice in Nigeria.
The journey to psychiatric care.
For Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, the path to psychiatry began after obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in Nigeria. Driven by her interest in how the mind affects behaviour, she specialised in psychiatry and received advanced training in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York.
Over time, she became one of the few Nigerian psychiatrists to integrate psychotherapy and digital technology, earning a Master’s degree in Digital Healthcare from Barcelona Technology School and Universitat de Barcelona. This combination of medical, psychological, and digital expertise has shaped her unique approach to treatment and advocacy.
Her innovation extends beyond the clinic. Kadiri developed HOWBODI, a telemedicine platform designed to increase access to mental health services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Through virtual consultations and digital resources, HOWBODI brings therapy closer to people who might never have been able to seek help otherwise.
She also established Pinnacle Health Radio, Africa’s first online health radio platform dedicated to mental health education and advocacy. The platform uses media to reach thousands of listeners with professional advice, awareness campaigns, and practical information about emotional wellness.
To push national dialogue further, Kadiri organises The Mental Health Conference (TMHC) – an annual event that gathers psychiatrists, psychologists, policymakers, and advocates to discuss solutions, share research, and advance policy around mental health in Nigeria and across Africa. Through this platform, she has helped shape public awareness and strengthen collaboration among professionals in the field.
Beyond these initiatives, she founded the Pinnacle Medicals SpeakOut Initiative, a community program focused on increasing mental health literacy, especially among students and young people. The program runs outreach campaigns in schools and workplaces, providing education on topics like stress management, depression, and addiction, while promoting early intervention.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she introduced Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to support frontline workers and employees dealing with emotional exhaustion.
Her work has earned numerous recognitions, including the Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare award at the Top50 Global Professional & Career Women Awards in Dubai in 2022. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri is also a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and continues to mentor young psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health advocates.
