Systemic Oppression and Rights of the Minorities: Discourse of the Reflections on Nigerian Society

Abstract

Abstract

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

“…They require that social workers develop a sound reputation through respectful relationships with their clients and each other. Ugiagbe and Eweka's (2014) analysis of systematic oppression among Nigeria's minorities highlighted the political, economic, and cultural pressures and leadership failures that made coping impossible for vulnerable groups, whose problems lay in social relationships and societal processes that led to systemic and institutional oppression. Sociocultural heritage sustained unjust practices and policies that enhanced the domination and exploitations of vulnerable members of Nigerian society with whom social workers worked.…”

“…As Ugiagbe (2017) observed, ‘international frameworks have proved remarkably resilient and impervious to cultural transformation’ (p. 272) and continue to dominate across Nigeria’s diverse cultural contexts comprising more than 300 ethnic groups and cultures, though the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo constitute about 70 percent of the population (Olaore and Drolet, 2017). People from these dominant ethnic groups occupy most political leadership positions, including the President and Vice-President, principal officers in the armed forces, police and other Federal parastatals, and 80 percent of federal senior civil servants come from these three ethnic groups (Ugiagbe and Eweka, 2014). Beyond cultural responsiveness, to enhance their relevance, social workers need to engage with ‘broader issues of sustainable human development and the social and political factors ‒ patriarchy, corruption, political conflict, and gender, ethnic, and religious discrimination ‒ that serve as barriers to human and social wellbeing’ (Ugiagbe, 2017: 272).…”

“…Challenging systematic oppression requires social workers with a sound knowledge and understanding of its human rights and social justice perspective (Onalu and Okoye, 2021; Ugiagbe and Eweka, 2014). Social work education has a key role to play in equipping social workers with knowledge of the root causes of, and strategies and skills to address injustice, inequalities, exploitation and oppression (Onalu and Okoye, 2021).…”

“…Misrecognition of women’s and children’s rights is visible in unjust widowhood practices, girl-child marriage, female genital mutilation, child witchcraft accusation and stigmatisation, denial of inheritance to female children, and discriminatory practices against older people, people with disabilities, people with epilepsy and albinos. Addressing these injustices calls for anti-oppressive rights-based practice, advocacy and social action (Atumah et al, 2019; Onalu and Okoye, 2021; Ugiagbe and Eweka, 2014). Social workers challenge social injustices and rights violations inter alia through their engagement in policy processes, conscientisation, public education and legal redress, working in concert with key stakeholders, networks and interest groups.…”