The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Nigerian Council for Social Work (NCSW) with a view to ensuring effective regulation and licensing of social work in the country.
At the ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye stated that the inauguration follows the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly and its subsequent assent into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in December, 2022
The Minister stated further that the absence of a functional legal framework for social work practice in the country, prompted stakeholders to initiate the bill to ensure that the social work echo system in Nigeria aligns with International best practices
In view of the importance of a regulatory Act to the social work community and for the profession to rank in status with other notable professions in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs with directive from the OHCSF convened several stakeholders’ meetings in collaboration with UNICEF that eventually ensured the passage and transmission of the Bill by the National Assembly and its assent into law by Mr. President in December, 2022*, She said
Kennedy-Ohanenye informed that the Nigerian Council for Social Work is targeted at professionals who deliver services to the vulnerable groups, which is the reason why the Ministry is playing the lead role in the constitution of the Council.
She explained, *the importance of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs leading the process in setting up the Nigerian Council for Social Work cannot be overemphasized due to the fact that the FMWA has the largest social work component departments as stipulated in the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act 2022*
The Minister who expressed optimism with the calibre of people that consitute the Board, charged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear, in ensuring the realisation of the Board’s mandate.
While thanking the Honourable Minister, Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in particular, for the opportunity given to them to serve the country in this capacity, the Director, Gender Affairs, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Friya Bulus stated that the Board will ensure that the practice of social work in the country is adequately certificated and regulated
She also assured that the members will bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the successful realisation of the policy objectives of the present administration as it relates to the practice of social work in the country.
The Board membership includes –
Representatives of the Professional Associations
Alhaji Moshood Mustapha – 1st Representative of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers
Mallam Jamal Ali Ahmed – 2nd Representative of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers
Abubakar Alhassan Bichi – Representative of the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria
Professor James Ayangunna –
Representative of the Association of Social Work Educators of Nigeria
Dr. John Emaimo –
Representative of the Chartered Institute of Social Work of Nigeria
Mr. Aliko Hamma Missau – Representative of the Social Welfare Association of Nigeria
Representative of the Indigenous Non-Governmental Organisations – Mr. Justice Ulunta, The Executive Director, Twining for Health Support Initiative, Nigeria
Representative of the Institutions offering Social Work – Prof. Uzoma O. Okoye, Department of Social work, UNN, Enugu
Representative of the Civil Society Organisations –
Mr. Olakunle Sanni
National Coordinator,
Child Protection Network (CPN)
Representative of Social Security Department,
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
Abuja.
Representatives of the Component departments at the Federal Ministries responsible for Social Work Services
Representative of the Enterprise Development,
and Promotion Department,
Federal Ministry of Youth Development
Federal Secretariat
Abuja
Mrs Friya K Bulus
Representative of the Gender Affairs Department,
Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
Abuja
Representative of the Coordinating Federal Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare
Federal Secretariat
Abuja
Representative of Component departments
at the States ministries responsible for Social Work Service delivery
Social Development Secretariat
of the FCT- Abuja
15. Comrade Olutimi Jacob
