Interview

SPOTLIGHT: Meet 18-year-old advocate addressing mental health issues in Nigeria

Samira Bello is a mental health advocate and the founder of Kira, an app designed to enhance users’ well-being and provide comprehensive support for their mental health and substance abuse recovery journey. She currently studies Law at the University of London. In this interview by AROGBONLO ISRAEL, she tells us about her journey into entrepreneurship.

Contents

1. Tell us about your background.2. Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?3. What led you to start Kira?4. How do you ensure user data privacy and security on Kira?5. Can you describe your experience with collaborating with mental health professionals or organisations?6. What are your major challenges?7. What are your projections for the next five years?

1. Tell us about your background.

My name is Samira Daniella Bello, and I am 18 years old. I was born in Lagos in 2005 and moved to Abuja in 2007, then back to Lagos in 2010 where I attended Corona School Gbagada. In 2013, we moved to Johannesburg, South Africa for a year and returned to Abuja afterward. I went to Tender Years Preparatory School and then attended Oxford Manor College and The Regent College Abuja for my secondary and pre-tertiary education. I started out in university as a Biomedical Engineering student at King’s College London and later switched to Law. I am currently a Law student at the University of London. I have had a very different upbringing from most people, and my mother has always allowed me to express myself politely and ask questions when things confuse me, which has made me the way I am today.

2. Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?

The short answer is yes. Throughout my life, I have been involved in various business ventures, possibly influenced by my father. At age 9, I sold handmade beaded jewelry and had a successful pop-up sale on my 9th birthday. I then started a small skincare company in 2020, which was thriving until my mum advised me to focus on my studies due to important exams. That year, I also built the first version of my app and had the opportunity to speak about it for the first time. Currently, I am the founder of a perfume oil company called ÀÁDÙN, focusing on the link between psychology and scents, set to launch officially on June 25, 2024.

3. What led you to start Kira?

(Sighs)… In 2020, with the pandemic and other challenges in Nigeria, I realized that many people around me needed help but did not know where to find it. Seeing that apps like BetterHelp existed abroad but were unaffordable for the average Nigerian, I aimed to find a solution specifically for my country. I have always had an interest in psychology and the human mind, and if I wasn’t studying law, I would certainly be studying psychology or psychiatry. Kira was officially launched on July 4th, 2024, a significant step forward in our commitment to supporting mental wellness and recovery in our community.

4. How do you ensure user data privacy and security on Kira?

At the moment, I can only speak about what we’ve put in place, as the app hasn’t been rolled out yet due to some delays from the app stores. The app is designed so that user submissions appear as anonymous on the back end, unless the user includes their names in the submission. This anonymity is crucial due to the sensitivity of the topics discussed on the app.

5. Can you describe your experience with collaborating with mental health professionals or organisations?

My first collaboration with an organisation was in 2020 with the I Choose Life Foundation. My app was created as an entry into their contest, and I was later invited to speak as a panelist at their annual “My Nigerian Dream” conference. This relationship has flourished, and I am now a volunteer at the foundation.

6. What are your major challenges?

In the pre-rollout phase, I would definitely identify communication and approval as major challenges. Because of the increased number of people involved in the app, as well as the involvement of a government organization, things tend to take longer.

7. What are your projections for the next five years?

(Smiles)… For myself, I aim to be a lawyer and work towards my Master’s degree in Global Health, Social Medicine, and Social Justice. For Kira, I am confident that it will achieve the impact for which it was built. It will be in use across Nigeria and be available in many other Nigerian languages, expanding its inclusivity.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE