Nigerian Social Worker Elected IFSW Regional President

Eko Hot Blog reports that a Nigerian social worker and community development advocate Ms. Oluwatoni Adeleke has been elected as President of International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Africa Region.

According to Daily Post, Adeleke, the immediate past National Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) was elected at the election held in Panama on Tuesday.

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Adeleke, who previously held the role of Vice President, now assumes the presidency, succeeding Dr. Noel Muridzo from Zimbabwe.

This marks the first time a Nigerian social worker has risen to this esteemed position within the association.

Reacting to the development, the National President of NASoW, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha described Adeleke’s emergence as timely.

Mustapha made this declaration via a statement made available to journalists through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo on Thursday.

Mustapha noted that Adeleke’s emergence is an indication that Social Work profession has come to stay in Nigeria.

He urged governments at all levels, agencies, development partners and philanthropists to cooperate with the association so as to reduce social problems in the country to the barest minimum.

“On behalf of the entire members of NASoW, I wish to congratulate the new IFSW Africa Region President, Toni Adeleke. She emerged during a strongly contested election, the result of which was announced on Tuesday.

Toni Adeleke is the immediate past National Secretary of NASoW, the umbrella body of all professional social workers in Nigeria. She had earlier served as Vice President of IFSW Africa Region.

“NASoW has the confidence that she will deliver. The good news is that this is the first time a Nigerian will be in that position since the establishment of IFSW Africa Region. There is no doubt that social work has come to stay in Nigeria and NASoW has been the engine driving the vehicle. Social Work practice in Nigeria has witnessed many tremendous achievements in the last few years since I was inaugurated as President in 2018.

“It is on the record that Nigeria Council for Social Work [Establishment) Act was signed during my tenure by former President Muhammadu Buhari in December, 2022. Nigeria hosted IFSW Africa Region conference in November last year and now we are having a Nigerian, a committed member of NASoW as IFSW Africa Region President.

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This is an indication that the future of social work in Nigeria is very bright. Now, we have over 60 tertiary institutions offering social work at undergraduate and post graduate levels. This is a unique transformative change.

“I am using this medium to appeal to governments at all levels to engage trained social workers in all areas where our services are needed”. The era of square peg in a round hole is over”.

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