IFSW member the Nigeria Association Of Social Workers gathered last week to plan their work on the second pillar on the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: “Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples”. Dr Rory Truell, IFSW Secretary-General congratulated the Nigerian Association, “Your conference is an inspiring example of social work in action. Nigeria has many challenges and clearly social workers are making an impact that improves the quality and dignity of people’s lives. The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development is a platform for our profession to speak with one voice while actively addressing local and regional issues. The work of the Nigerian social workers not only makes a difference in their own country, but also to the profession worldwide”, he said.
Read the statement form the Nigerian Social Work Conference:
Press Statement Issued At The End Of The 30th Annual General Meeting And Conference Of The Nigeria Association Of Social Workers (Nasow) Held From 12th – 15th Nonember, 2014 At Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, South- Southern Nigeria.
Bringing together delegates from the 36 states of Nigeria and Federal Capital, the conference examined the second pillar of the global agenda for social work and social development “promoting the dignity and worth of people”. Social workers present demonstrate the sense of achievement, self-confidence and commitment to professional service to humanity.
In line with the global agenda of promoting the dignity and worth of people, the Conference identified Government (federal, states and LGs), Non-governmental organization, philanthropists, social workers and all human service professionals as stakeholders involved in creating awareness on ebola virus, supporting the life of the displaced persons in North- Eastern Nigeria, creating awareness against kidnapping, child sexual abuse/raping, women trafficking and full professionalization of social work in Nigeria.
We note with appreciation the effort of Government and all stakeholders towards their prompt response at eradicating and continuous strategization against ebola virus in Nigeria. In the vain, called for an intensified measure to address the increasing incidents of raping and de-humanization of people in the North-Eastern Nigeria.
Social workers at this juncture, commensurate with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the series of tragic incidences and lost of lives of innocent citizens and pray against the re-occurrence of such incidence. In the same direction, called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the issues of poverty and unemployment, Poor state of health care delivery, and inadequate funding of education and other social services. Effort should be geared towards agricultural and industrial development as well as the reactivation of constant power supply in Nigeria so that the needed economic growth and human development can be achieved.
We commend the office of the Head of Federal Civil Service of Nigeria over the decision towards full professionalization of social work professional departments and its decision to pursue the Bill of professionalization of social work in Nigeria now awaiting third reading in the National Assembly. And also commended the effort of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development towards the Bill of professionalization of social work in Nigeria and therefore commend and called upon the Ministry to intensify effort towards the passage of the Bill.
We Congratulate the International Federation of Social Workers, the National Associations of Social Workers in different countries and entire Social Workers over the successful conduct of the 2014 world conference and general meeting in Melbourne, Australia. We wish the International Federation of Social Workers along with two other sister organizations, a successful conduct of future world conferences and other occasions.
Link to the First Global Report on Social Work and Social Development: Promoting Social and Economic Equalities
Link to Commitments to Action