The Nigeria Association of Social Workers, Oyo State chapter has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the association for the next four years.
The inauguration of the executives took place during the 2024 World Social Work Day celebration in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The new executives include 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 (Programmes Officer).
Also Read:
- Spokesman to Akpoti-Uduaghan: Senate for serious business not for content creation
- TCN announces seven-hour power outage in parts of Abuja
- Okpebholo reacts to claims of Oshiomhole being a dictator
- June 12 Annulment: IBB fortunate to apologise – Ex-Governor
- Wigwe estate: Father, cousin appeal court judgment on administrators
The event was attended by the 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, Christianah Abioye; and NASoW National Public Relations Officer, Musliudeen Atanda Adebayo.
Others were Dr. Victoria Iyanda from Lead City University, Ibadan; National President of Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria, Kayode Ogedengbe; Social Workers in the state; and Social Work students from the University of Ibadan and Lead City University.
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.
She said: “Nothing stops you to go extra to protect yourself.
“There are some occupational hazards.
“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 by wars and violence or climate warming and environment 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, organisers, activists, planners, politicians, lobbyists, writers and researchers.
She said: “Social Workers include but are not limited to: change agents, problem solvers, critical thinkers, facilitators, advocators, counsellors, clinicians, organisers, activists, planners, politicians, lobbyist, 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.
He said: “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.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
