The recognition of the need to create special psychiatric services for children and adolescents is increasing in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. While numerous challenges exist to the provision of these services currently, it is clear that much can be done even with the limited available resources. Our tasks as Child and Adolescent mental health professionals will require a great deal of determination, persistence, creativity and innovation as we shape services to meet the needs of our children and adolescents within our unique sociocultural context.