Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), Oyo state chapter has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the association for the next four years.
The inauguration of the new executive took place during the 2024 World Social Work Day celebration which took place at the Social Development Staff Training Center, Samonda Ibadan on Tuesday.
The new executive included; Mr. Ayodele Adegoke Mutair (Chairman), Omokunmi Abiola Funmilayo (Secretary), Sonuga Adebisi Oyeyemi (Treasurer ) Raheem Wakeel Ademola (Auditor), Yusuf Olanrewaju Uthman (Public Relations Officer), Tijani Tawakalitu Abdullahi (Welfare Officer) and Ogunyemi Adeleke Idowu (Programme Officer).
The event was attended by Head of Department of Sociology, Psychology Criminology and Social Work, Lead City University Ibadan, Dr. Jane Adebusuyi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and former NASoW Chairperson in the state, Mrs Christianah Abioye and NASoW National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musliudeen Atanda Adebayo.
Others are; Dr. Victoria Iyanda from Lead City University, Ibadan, National President of Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), Mr. Kayode Ogedengbe, Social Workers in the state and Social Work students from University of Ibadan and Lead City University, Ibadan.
Adebusuyi, while delivering her paper titled “Buen Vivir: Appraising Social Work Practice for Transformative Change” advocated for more synergy among social workers in the country.
She also advised social workers to be safety conscious so as to reduce occupational hazards.
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She said, “Nothing stops you from going extra to protect yourself. There are some occupational hazard. You need to protect yourself. Don’t wait until you are infected. Wherever you are going for a home visit, you need to request for security cover.
“Social Work is a problem-solving profession. Social work operates in a world in crisis which is evidenced by thousands of people who die daily from violent conflict; millions who are displaced of wars and violence or climate warming and environmental destruction. To effectively respond to this crisis, Social Work needs new approaches, actions, actors and platforms for transformative change which is community-led”.
Abioye while declaring the day open explained that Social Workers are trained professionals who are devoted to helping individuals, vulnerable people, families, groups and communities work through challenges they face in everyday life and enhance their individual and collective well-being.
She added that social workers are change agents, problem solvers, critical thinkers, facilitators, advocators, counsellors, clinicians, organizers, activists, planners, politicians, lobbyists, writers and researchers.
“Social Workers include but are not limited to: change agents, problem solvers, critical thinkers, facilitators, advocators, counsellors, clinicians, organizers, activists, planners, politicians, lobbyists, writers, and researchers.
“Social Work professionals are trained professionals who are devoted to helping individuals, vulnerable people, families, groups and communities work through challenges they face in everyday life and enhance their individual and collective well-being”.
Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, admonished social workers across the country to raise more awareness about Social Work.
“I am here to deliver a message from NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha. He told me to congratulate all of us on the occasion of 2024 World Social Work Day. World Social Work Day is celebrated across the globe every third Tuesday of March and today is another World Social Work Day. Social Work Day is celebrated throughout the world so as to celebrate the tremendous achievements of Social Workers across the globe and to raise awareness about Social Work.
“Let me use this medium to felicitate and celebrate the achievements of social workers across the world and Nigeria in particular as we witness another World Social Work Day today. I hereby admonish us to continue to raise awareness about Social Work. We should continue to enlighten people about Social Work practice wherever we find ourselves because we can only blow our own trumpet, no one can do it for us. Happy celebrations”.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE