WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTER RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, PROTECT VULNERABLE NIGERIANS<\/p>\n
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim has reaffirmed government’s commitment to operationalize the Nigerian Council for Social Work, as key stakeholders from government, development partners, professional bodies, academia, and civil society convened for a high-level Strategic Dialogue and National Social Service Workforce Coordination meeting held on Thursday, May 7 2026 at the Abuja Continental Hotel<\/p>\n
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the gathering as a defining moment for the future of social work in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Head of Information, Ahmed Danbazau, she emphasized the urgent need for unity, reconciliation, and institutional collaboration to strengthen the profession and improve service delivery for vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe institutionalization of social work in Nigeria demands this,\u201d the Minister said. \u201cA house divided cannot regulate a profession. If we carry our divisions forward, we risk failing the very people we are meant to serve: the child in need of protection, the woman facing violence, the elderly without care, and persons with disabilities seeking dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n
She noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places social development at the heart of national transformation, adding that 2026 has been declared a year for delivering tangible results to Nigerians.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory will not remember who won which argument, but whether we had the courage to set aside our differences to strengthen social work practice in Nigeria,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n
The Minister assured stakeholders of the Ministry\u2019s political will to ensure the Council is established on a foundation of legitimacy, professionalism, and trust. She urged professional associations and institutions to nominate credible representatives in line with the Act.<\/p>\n
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Nigeria, Child Protection Manager, Ms. Mona Aika commended the Ministry for convening the engagement, describing it as \u201ca decisive step toward building a strong, professional, and accountable social service workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
She noted that although the Social Work Act was passed in 2022, delays in operationalizing the framework have created gaps in regulation and service delivery. \u201cAddressing this gap is foundational to strengthening child protection systems,\u201d Ms. Aika said.<\/p>\n
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, represented by Director Gender Affairs, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, said the meeting provides a critical platform for collaboration toward a functional and sustainable Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur focus must be deliberate and pragmatic, moving beyond policy articulation to concrete, actionable steps,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
The two-day strategic engagement is expected to produce actionable resolutions to accelerate the operationalization of the Nigerian Council for Social Work and strengthen institutional frameworks for the protection and welfare of vulnerable persons nationwide.<\/p>\n
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WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTER RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, PROTECT VULNERABLE NIGERIANS The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim has reaffirmed government’s commitment to operationalize the Nigerian Council for Social Work, as key stakeholders from government, development partners, professional bodies, academia, and civil society convened for a high-level Strategic Dialogue and National Social […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":150645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2895,2985,339],"class_list":{"0":"post-150644","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-others","8":"tag-imaan-sulaiman-ibrahim","9":"tag-social-work-practice","10":"tag-unicef"},"yoast_head":"\n