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When academic training is trivialized: The agonies and pains of a Nigerian social work professional
IT was Sir Malthus who identified that nations fail to progress because they have an economy that grows arithmetically while population grows geometrically. Most definitely, a geometrically increasing population will be left with no choice but to scramble for the paltry proceeds of an arithmetically increasing economy. The end becomes a war of all against all where man becomes pathetically brutish and nasty as put forward by Thomas Hobbes. Vulnerability, poverty and deprivation would definitely become imminent, and then we wish for a change in government, miracles from God or sometimes, outright death.
No matter how difficult the world is and how pernicious the economy becomes, there are proven ways of survival. So we ask, why has Nigeria refused looking deep into history to see that nations progress because they achieve complementary significance between economic and social development? Why has Nigeria failed to consider through historical times the roles played by Rev. Sollys Charity Organisation Society and Jane Addams Settlement House in managing the pitiable social and economic consequences emanating from the industrial revolution? Why cant Nigeria ask itself, what should be so special about these people called social workers that developed nations and developing nations like South Africa and Ghana etc. have made an integral part of their development with the status of professionalization? Many questions can add to these being asked, but not many answers can be given.
In one of the defining moments in social work history that led to the professionalization of social work in the United States of America, Mary Richmond stated The question now is how to get educated young men and women to make a life vocation of being concerned with the needy, vulnerable and the oppressed to make a life vocation of charity work. Richmonds 1897 statement galvanized the establishment of Applied School of Philanthropy which provided the American social space with well-trained social workers in varying fields of social interest ranging from schools, libraries, hospitals, airports, social welfare agencies, prisons, juvenile courts, law courts, community centres, psychiatric facilities, old peoples homes, administration and policy, etc. Consequently, social work became sanctioned with a professional status by law during the early/mid-20th century in the USA. Same fate applied to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and contemporary leading Asian and African nations like Singapore, India, Egypt, South Africa and Ghana.
Nigeria had a very strong social work base during the colonial era. In fact, the colonial masters ensured that they married three important areas of human welfare in order to preserve our society. These areas were, medicine, religion and social work. While they gave medicines to our ailments and religion to our spirit, they never failed to provide care for destitute, indigents, homeless children, sociopath/psychopath, among other vulnerable and needy groups, and very importantly, they also challenged some cultural practices that dehumanize the human being. So, one would ask with the social care and social work which the colonial master made an integral part of his governance structure, what must have happened onward? The truth is that the colonial master gave social work to non-social workers and the latter never appreciated it, thinking that anyone can offer such services. With such reckless handling of social work, which the United Nations attested to, a meeting of social welfare ministers of third world nations in 1968 was conveyed by the UN.
In lieu of that meeting, Dr. A. H. Shawky came to Nigeria in 1970 to study its social space and make recommendations on Nigerias social development. Very key to his recommendations was the training of social work professionals as well as legal sanction of the profession to drive to fruition the social development goals of the country at its three tiers. To accentuate the report of Shawky to action, the 1974 Social Development Decree came to be. University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1976 became the citadel of training social workers at Diploma level, and in 1987 it levelled up to awarding Bachelors Degree. Currently, the school alongside other private and public tertiary institutions award up to Masters and PhD in social work. Thus, the country has lived up to Shawkys recommendation in producing plethora of trained social workers who are skilled in scientific helping and social protection. Sadly, these good number of social workers have not been given the platform by law to man Nigerias social development space. Rather, unqualified and untrained persons have leverage our supposed positions and making a mockery of them.
It is strange that in this time and age, a country like Nigeria is yet to have a full fledge social work profession to guarantee it social welfare at all levels. It is stranger that we still ask to get clarified on the status of a noble profession that have successfully thrived in other nations of the world with its achievements to show at personal and structural levels. Can a social worker pose to be lawyer or who he is not trained to be? Why then do we allow people who are yet to understand the dynamics of scientific helping do what social workers have been painstakingly trained to do? Are we aware that in the training process of social workers as stipulated by its curriculum, 60% of training time must be spent in the field [prison, school, social welfare agency, research/policy, hospital, among other agencies]? The social workers you see in Nigeria go through these rigours just to give their all for a better society. Is it not criminal to train a man for a particular task and let another who did not go through such rigours take his job?
It is at this point the government must realize the evil and harm it is committing against itself. The government must know that all of its problems ranging from illegal migration, school truancy, illiteracy, terrorism, family breakdown, communal clashes, juvenile delinquency, illegal/arbitrary arrest, destitution, crime, among others, can be traceable to the absence of professionals trained to confront them. We hereby put forward to the government to approve the Nigerian Council for Social Work Establishment Bill 2017 to regulate social work activities in line with global best practices, and give to the country what it best deserves in social development terms.
Written by Uzoma Odera Okoye Ph.D.
Professor of Social Work
Head, Department of Social Work,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
uzokoye@yahoo.co.uk
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Aderemi Oseni, has declared his intention to contest the Oyo South Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Oseni made his aspiration known during a high-level meeting with the Ibarapa APC Elders’ and Leaders’ Forum, comprising the G9 and the expanded G64 caucus, held at the party secretariat in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, over the weekend.
The G9 and G64 groups consist of influential stakeholders drawn from Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central, and Ibarapa North local government areas.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker expressed appreciation to the forum for their support and confidence in his leadership and vision.
He said his ambition to represent Oyo South Senatorial District was anchored on a determination to consolidate and expand his record of performance.
Oseni said, “This aspiration is not built on mere rhetoric, but on the continuity and expansion of a proven track record of quality representation and grassroots-oriented governance.”
While soliciting the support of party leaders, he described his ambition as a divine call to serve the people with renewed dedication.
According to him, “This is not a time for self-glory but a sacred responsibility to intensify efforts towards real development, bring more relief to our people and ensure inclusive governance.”
He pledged not to betray the trust reposed in him by party elders and faithful, stressing that his aspiration is rooted in progressive ideals and a genuine commitment to the development of the district.
Oseni also urged leaders in the zone to mobilise support towards delivering one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
Speaking at the meeting, a leader from Ibarapa East, Chief Michael Morawo, lauded the lawmaker for delivering democratic dividends and strengthening the party structure. He added that Oseni has demonstrated commendable leadership through his performance, noting that his impact in stabilising the party within the constituency is evident.
Similarly, a former council chairman in Ibarapa Central, Chief Theophilus Adenrele, commended the lawmaker for not betraying the trust reposed in him. Also, a chieftain from Ibarapa North, Chief Francis Babalola, described Oseni as a humble leader committed to progressive ideals, dismissing speculations about his possible defection if he does not secure the governorship ticket.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the forum, Chief Timothy Jolaoso, said the lawmaker enjoys widespread grassroots acceptance that cuts across political divides.
Jolaoso said, “All indicators consistently point to Oseni as a candidate with acceptance that transcends party lines. He is not only capable but a man of deep faith with proven empathy for the downtrodden.”
He added, “He possesses the goodwill, financial strength, and public trust required for leadership.”
The elder statesman further noted that Oseni’s performance in the House of Representatives, alongside his role as Chairman of the FERMA Committee, underscores his competence and commitment to development.
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