Strategic processes to further the professional status of social work in Nigeria

Abstract

This article examines pivotal issues relating to social workers’ search for professional recognition in Nigeria. It begins with a historical discussion of social work’s universal quest to establish a distinct professional identity. Thereafter, it examines Nigerian social work’s path to professionalisation before introducing an analytical framework through recourse to an R-lexicon to highlight the interrelated processes by which professions establish their credentials and attain legitimation. These are registration and regulation, relevance, recognition, representation, relational connection, rights and research. This R-lexicon highlights key strategic areas Nigerian social workers might address to advance their quest for professional status.

‘There is not much we can do’: The roles and challenges of Nigeria's child protection social workers

“…Gray and Amadasun (2023) noted that ‘a relatively small number of children and families in Nigeria tended to enter the statutory system through police referral and social welfare ministries’ (p. 57). They further noted that resource constraints hampered effective service delivery:…”

“…Among its cultural and religious peculiarities are early child marriage, child beggars, and Almajiri education (Akinola, 2015; Akintunde et al, 2020). Investigation shows that vulnerable children are rescued from vulnerable situations and taken into CPS or NGOs through referral by the courts, police, ministry of social welfare, or concerned individuals (Gray & Amadasun, 2023; Loven, 2022).…”

“…As part of the child development department, orphan, and vulnerable children (OVC) division coordinates care and support for OVC and builds the capacity of stakeholders, including families, communities and civil society organizations, to improve the welfare and well‐being of vulnerable children and protect them using an integrated approach. Gray and Amadasun (2023) claim that Nigeria's child welfare system appears good on paper but is utterly ineffective in practice. This is because, the Nigerian child protection system lacks enough social workers to provide these services (Holmes et al, 2012), despite the large number of social work graduates (Isangha et al, 2021).…”

“…CPSWs in West Africa face unique challenges due to widespread poverty, conflict, and cultural norms that are unaligned with international child rights standards (Sossou & Yogtiba, 2009). The operation of the CPSWs in Nigeria is even more complicated because the government has shown little commitment to ensuring a robust child welfare system, and social work only recently gained legal recognition (Gray & Amadasun, 2023; Isangha et al, 2023; Sossou & Yogtiba, 2009). In this article, we examine the roles and challenges of Nigerian child protection social workers (NCPSWs) and make recommendations for future practice, policy, and research.…”

Social Work in Africa

“…Literatur Amadasun, S., & Gray, M. (2023). Enhancing the relevance of social work education in Nigeria.…”