Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu, has called on Nigerian social workers to continue serving as a platform for amplifying diverse voices, sharing actionable insights, and inspiring collective action for national development.
Edu made the call in her keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 40th Annual National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), which also marked the association’s 50th anniversary.
The event was held from Tuesday, October 14 to Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Leisure Spring, Osogbo, Osun State.
The conference was declared open by Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Hon. Ayobola Elizabeth Fadeyi Awolowo.
The gathering attracted a large number of participants, including practicing social workers, educators, students, top government officials from across the six geopolitical zones, and international delegates from India, Russia, Mexico, Bangladesh, Italy, Egypt, and Nepal.
In her address, Dr. Edu emphasized the need for strengthening intergenerational solidarity to promote enduring well-being and inclusive growth.
“As we celebrate 50 years of NASoW, let us recommit to developing age-inclusive policies, bridging gaps between generations, and sharing experiences and wisdom across age groups,” she said. “By fostering mutual respect and understanding across generations, we can unlock the potential for transformative change and drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Edu urged NASoW to continue serving as a catalyst for unity and social transformation, adding that intergenerational collaboration should remain a cornerstone of efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
The lead paper was presented by Professor Solomon Adebola, Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar and Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Oladayo Aliu.
His presentation, titled “Building Resilience among Social Workers in Nigeria,” highlighted the importance of professional strength and adaptability in addressing emerging social challenges.
At the end of the conference, participants resolved that social workers play a crucial role in addressing the complex challenges facing individuals, groups, and communities in Nigeria.
They emphasised that the primary purpose of social work remains to promote problem-solving strategies that enhance social well-being.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for policies aimed at mitigating hardship but noted that social workers continue to face major challenges — including the absence of a regulatory body, poor funding, weak policy implementation, lack of recognition, and limited involvement in key national programmes.
NASoW therefore called for urgent government action to strengthen the social work profession, ensure adequate regulation, and promote synergy among related sectors to better serve vulnerable populations across the country.
The conference also observed that the absence of council to regulate social work practice is undermining the progress of the profession in Nigeria. We also commend some state governments for involving social workers in their activities and also enjoined other states to emulate them.
The association appealed to the federal government to constitute and inaugurate the Nigerian Council for Social Work.
The association appeal to the governments at all levels to involve Social Workers in the formulation, execution and implementation of policies and programmes of the government.
The conference advised members to update their certificate, attend more trainings and seminars so as to update their knowledge and compete favorably with their peers across the globe.
The association called on all social workers to make wise use of information and communication technology (ICT), mass media platforms and other modern tools for effective service delivery.
The conference enjoined the federal government to put all necessary machineries in place in order to address the level of insecurity in the country.
The association observed the level of insecurity in the state and enjoined the governments at all levels to put policies, programmes and machineries in place to tackle the problems.
NASoW also urged the governments at all levels and stakeholders not to neglect boy child while promoting the right of the girl child.
