World Social Work Day: Scholars Advocate Ethical Practice and Trauma-Informed Care in Social Work
Dr Abimbola Afolabi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Ibadan, has advised Nigerian social workers to treat their clients in accordance with the principles and ethics of their profession.
Afolabi issued this advice on Tuesday while delivering a paper as one of the guest speakers at World Social Work Day, organised by the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) Oyo State chapter.
Discussing this year’s theme, “Co-building hope and harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society,” she urged Nigerian social workers to relate to their clients without fear or favour.
She explained that social workers must engage with individuals without allowing ethnicity, religion, or language to influence their conduct, and she urged them to bridge the deep divisions created by inequalities within Nigeria. According to her, the core mission of social work is to promote unity rather than division, fostering harmony in a time of persistent conflict.
Additionally, Dr Victoria Iyanda, a lecturer from the Department of Behavioural Science at Lead City University, called on governments at all levels to involve more social workers in addressing the social issues affecting citizens and the nation.
She insisted that governments should prioritise engaging social workers, especially in critical areas such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and other vulnerable settings.
“Government should involve social workers, in the North, at IDP camps, government should engage the social workers.”
Emphasising the urgent need for trauma-informed social work practices across all sectors, she lamented that Nigeria is becoming increasingly divided, with many individuals, families, and communities experiencing various forms of trauma.
“Social Workers operate in Social welfare settings. We are using the same pattern. You can practice anywhere. Trauma affects everybody. Trauma-informed social work is what we should advocate for. Collaborate, refer when you don’t have the capacity to help. Social Workers are change agents. Trauma-informed care should be integrated in our practice.”
In his goodwill message, NASoW National President Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, represented by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Mr Musliudeen Adebayo, stated that the purpose of World Social Work Day is to recognise the contributions of social workers worldwide and to raise awareness about the profession, highlighting the achievements of his administration since taking office.
“The current administration has achieved a lot of things since we came on board. We were able to ensure that we have Nigerian Council for Social Work Act. It was been signed into law and gazetted, we hosted the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) African Region conference in Lagos in 2023 and we have secured a land in Abuja for the construction of our national Secretariat.”
Earlier in his address, NASoW Chairman Mr. Ayodele Adegoke urged members to continue playing their roles in society.
