Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan
Social workers across the country under the aegis of National Association of Social Workers (NASoW), have elected new national officers to pilot affairs of the association for the next four years.
The election which took place in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, was part of activities during the association's 34th annual general meeting and national conference themed, "Promoting community and environmental sustainability".
Present at the conference include Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, represented by Director of Social Welfare in the ministry, Mrs. Temitope Bamgboye, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Kwara State, Mr. Taibat Ahmed, Head of Department of Social Work, University of Ilorin, Mr. A. A. Abdullahi and outgoing National President of the association, Mr. Nathaniel Olawale.
Those lected at the conference include Mr. M.B. Mustapha who defeated Mr. Olu Jacob to emerge as National President, Mr. Abubakar Alhassan Bichi who defeated Mr. S.M. Aladesuyi to emerge as Deputy President, Mr. Olukunle Balogun who defeated Mr. Johnson Nwopotu to emerge as General Secretary, Mrs. Oluwatoni Adeleke who defeated Tireng Retshit to emerge as Assistant General Secretary, Kande Useni who defeated Afolabi Adegboyega to emerge as Treasurer and Pius Akah who defeated Abdul Ahmed to emerge as Auditor.
Others are DAILY POST Correspondent in Oyo State, Musliudeen Adebayo, returned unopposed as Public Relations Officer, Promise Fubara, returned unopposed to emerge as Financial Secretary, Jamilu Musa, returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for North West, Sabina Izuora, returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for South East, Omoyajo Noah, returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for South West and Gabriel Apaingolo, returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for South South.
The rest are Hadijah Ladi Umar who defeated Felicity Gurumyen to emerge as Vice President for North Central, Abdullahi Aliyu Wankai who defeated Babangida Maigari to emerge as Vice President for North East, Brownson Barbara who defeated Aliyu Ahmed to emerge as Welfare Officer and Christian Oseghale who defeated Jamal Ahmed to emerge as Program Officer.
The new President, Mustapha promised to ensure the actualisation of Social Work professionalisation bill, reclamation of social development as an independent ministry and strengthening of the association to prevent exploitation.
He also used the medium to announce Chairman of the electoral committee, Mr. Takim Ojua as Editor in Chief and Mr. Tayo Ayoade as Legal Adviser.
He said, "First and foremost, I want to take NASoW to the next level, I am coming on a three-point agenda, the actualisation of the bill on professionalisation, reclamation of social development as an independent ministry to promote professionalisation and strengthening of NASoW to prevent exploitation.
"This executive is going to be an executive of togetherness with sense of ‘we’ devoid of ‘I am’ syndrome, it is going to be government of collectivism. The executive will determine the future of Social Work profession in Nigeria. To the students, we are going to carry them along, there will be synergy between the experience of the old and the energy of the youth. We have won, it is a victory to all of us, it is not a victory to me alone".
