Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) has honoured 15 eminent Nigerians and organisations with various awards in recognition of their contributions to social work in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that NASoW gave the awards during its 37th Annual General Meeting /Conference Dinner and Award Night held on Friday in Lagos.
The theme of the week long conference was : Ubuntu: I am, because we are; Strengthening Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness.
Among the award recipients are the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
Others are Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Lagos State Head of Service, MTN Foundation, Nestle Water Nigeria, UNICEF, TVC Communication, Rev. Christiana George, Mr Balogun Idowu , Mr Alufa Olalekan, Rev. Gabriel Oyediji, Mrs Joyce Andrew Hon. Akeem Sulaimon and Mrs Adetoun Ogedengbe.
Speaking at the event, NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, said that “social work is a profession designed to touch lives and improve humanity by creating a society where meeting need is a responsibility of everyone.”
He said that the conference was designed to reawaken a sense of connectivity and feelings of being there for one another to build a fair and just society where love, understanding and peace exist.
NASoW Lagos Chapter Chairperson, Ms Olubunmi Lamilisa, said that the award was organised to appreciate and celebrate individuals who had impacted on the society by helping the vulnerable in one way or the other.
Lamilisa said that the award recipients were carefully selected by the association following their track record of immense contribution to improving humanity and making the society a better place.
Mr Micheal Sonubi, Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Conference, said that the award was to recognise those who have served humanity in various spheres of life.
”The event was organised to celebrate individuals, political leaders and organisations who have addressed some of the needs of the people and also encouraged them to do more,” Sonubi said .
According to him, social work is about service to humanity and a collective responsibility because as long as human beings exist, there will be problems, needs, deprivation and challenges.
Speaking on behalf of other award recipients, Gov. Akeredolu’s aide on Rural Development, Kolawole Babatunde, lauded NASoW for recognising his administration’s provision of sustainable livelihoods for its citizenry through impactful programmes since 2017.
NAN reports that NASoW is an umbrella professional association for all social workers and social work professional associations in Nigeria.
Its core members are individuals who studied social work in different tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad and those practising social work profession in various organisations.
The workers include professionals handling child welfare, healthcare, psychiatric, environmentalists, drug addiction, family and community management, among others .
