Social Workers across the country on Friday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital elected new national officers to pilot the affairs of the association for the next four years.The election that took place Friday evening was part of the activities during the association’s 34th annual general meeting/national conference themed “Promoting community and environmental sustainability”.Dignitaries at the conference included the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar who was represented by Director of Social Welfare in the ministry, Mrs. Temitope Bamgboye, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Kwara State, Hajia Taibat Ahmed, Head of Department of Social Work University of Ilorin, Dr. A. A. Abdullahi, outgoing National President of the association, Mr. Nathaniel Kolawole Olawale.Those that were elected included Alhaji 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, Dr. 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 who was returned unopposed as Public Relations Officer, Promise Fubara who was returned unopposed to emerge as Financial Secretary, Jamilu Musa who was returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for North West, Sabina Izuora who returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for South East, Omoyajo Noah who returned unopposed to emerge as Vice President for South West, Gabriel Apaingolo who 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.Mustapha while while speaking promised to ensure the actualisation of the 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 the Chairman of the electoral committee, Professor Takim Ojua as Editor in Chief and Barrister Tayo Ayoade as Legal Adviser.Mustapha 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 felling devoid of I am syndrome, it is going to be government of collectivism and carry everybody along. 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”.
