Minister of women affairs reiterates commitment to women’s empowerment.

As part of government efforts to promote professionalism and standards, the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy Ohanenye has formally inaugurated a 30-man Governing Board of the Nigerian Council for Social Work.

This, she said was part of measures to set standard for certification and registration of social work practitioners in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said “ In realization of the importance of a legal backing for effective and qualitative practice of social services in Nigeria, the Ministry of Women Affairs led other social work focal Ministries and stakeholders to support a Bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Council for Social Work , in consideration of the importance of a regulatory body that will regulate and license social workers in Nigeria”

“the Nigerian Council for Social Work is targeted at professionals who deliver services to the vulnerable groups, hence the reason why the Ministry is playing the lead role in the constitution of the Council, leading to the setting up of the Council as stipulated in the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act 2022. The Ministry is also the Chair of the National Social Service Workforce Coordination Group with the support of the UNICEF”

In a press release issued by Ohaeri Osondu Joseph Fnipr, Fcai, Special Assistant, Media, said prior to the inauguration, Barr Uju reeled out the Board’s operational functions which includes to promote professional practice and uphold social work ethics and values, determining the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the profession of social work, promote research and ensure high standard and quality of training of social workers and to regulate and control the practice of the profession in all ramifications.

Responding on behalf of the Board members, the representative of the Social Welfare Association of Nigeria, Mr. Aliko Hamma Missau thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in the Board members and stated their commitment to deliver on their mandate of enthroning professionalism and standard in the activities of social workers in Nigeria.