By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Chairman, Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASOW), Kaduna State chapter, Mrs Comfort Bangoji has said that the association is committed to serving humanity and promoting human rights, social justice and collective wellbeing.
She made this known on Wednesday, during the celebration of the 2024 World Social Workers Day in Kaduna with the theme, “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change.”
According to her, the day is to raise awareness and support for social workers who play a significant role in the lives of children, families and communities facing adversity.
She added that social work had been instrumental in responding to various crises and challenges in Nigeria such as HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, Gender-Based Violence and conflicts.
She said, “I want to state that community-led approaches in social work have emerged in Nigeria.”
The chairman said that new approach is the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok to create awareness.
“It is in this light that Kaduna State chapter of the association embraced these innovations and decided to launch its website,” she added.
In her address, Sen. Nenadi Usman, who officially launched the website, congratulated social workers, “for the significant work toward social change and empowerment to improve lives.”
Represented by Mr. Toyin Alabi, the Managing Director, Invicta Radio, Usman said social service work deals directly with clients to provide care by meeting their physical, psychosocial and emotional needs.
In her paper presentation, Dr Gladys John, a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, urged social workers to effectively respond to crises through platforms for transformative changes
in communities.
She said, “this can be achieved by embracing the principle of ‘Buen Vivir’ and only be possible through being part of a community working together to achieve development.”
She commended the state government for establishing a trust fund for the poor and vulnerable, the passage of the Child Welfare Protection Law, the launch of the State Priority Agenda on Vulnerable Children and Violence Against Children Campaign.
She appealed for adequate funding of social welfare institutions, as well as employment of professionals and trainings.
Participants were drawn from Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Disability Affairs Board, National Eye Centre, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna Polytechnic and social work related NGOs.
Highpoint of the occasion was a visit to four retired social workers, namely Tijani Umar, Safiya Tukur, Mrs Lanti Yaroson and Mrs Elizabeth Makoshi, by the chairman and her exco.
Related
