By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
National President of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), Comrade Nathaniel Kolawole Olawale has said the association is ready to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his determination to effect the needed changes in the country.
Comrade Olawale who said this while speaking at the 2017 Social Work Day declared that NASoW will ensure that professionals in the field are engaged in managing the social problems bedeviling the country.
The NASoW National President while expressing delight that Social Work “is gradually gaining recognition and desired attention” noted that professionals in the field must be empowered through legislation in discharge of their duties.
“Let me repeat for umpteenth time that the importance of Social Work services cannot be over emphasized. There is no doubt that the country is bedeviled with various social vices ranging from terrorism to corruption, bribery, cultism, rioting, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, prostitution, kidnapping, political brigandry, child abuse, nepotism, tribalism, marital conflict, thuggery and hooliganism to mention but few”he said.
Comrade Olawale then called on the three tiers of government- Federal, States and Local Governments to involve trained and practicing Social Workers in delivery of Social Services issues in the country.
According to him,this will help to ensure that sufficient qualified Social Work personnel are recruited for effective social service delivery across the country,saying
“I therefore call on the three tiers of government to always involve Social Workers in social services issues and ensure that sufficient qualified Social Work personnel are recruited for effective social service delivery”.
“I am exceedingly glad to address you today as we celebrate year 2017 World Social Work day. My joy is borne out of the fact that Social Work profession which was relatively unknown in Nigeria before now is gradually gaining recognition and desired attention in the country.
It is in view of this that I am calling on all our highly revered distinguished Senators at the upper chamber of the national assembly to kindly expedite action on the passage of the ‘Bill on professionalization of Social Work’ presently at the senate”.
Stressing that “the theme for this year celebration is ‘Promoting Community and Environment Sustainability’, Comrade Olawale said “ I consider the theme apt because the major concern of social work is all about welfare”.
Speaking further on the importance of Social Work profession,he said professionals in the field should be engaged in managing the social problems bedeviled the country,saying,”at the forefront of preventing and combating as the case may be these menace are the Social Workers who are specially trained for these functions.There is therefore no doubt that Social Workers must be empowered through legislation to be able to discharge their functions effectively”.
