Social workers in Nigeria have been advised to adopt intercultural approach to solve myriads of social problems in the country instead of relying solely on the traditional methods.

Professor ChibuezeUdeani, a scholar from Julius Maximillian University Germany, gave the advice at the 1st International Conference of the Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Udeani, who delivered a keynote address at the conference said that although the call for the indigenisation of social approach would help rediscover the cultural perspective of social problems of the people, there was need to understand what was being indigenised.

He argued that some social problems in Nigeria have their roots in borrowed foreign cultures which cannot be solved by the sole application of indigenous solutions and theories espoused in social work texts.

The German-based Professor, who spoke on the topic; “Social Worker in Contemporary Nigeria Society: Challenges and Prospects”, called for the optimisation of social education and the updating of social work curriculum to provide contemporary solutions to Nigeria’s social problems.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, in his remarks, thanked the department for holding the conference at a time “Nigeria is in dire need of social solutions to many social problems in the country”.

“The theme of this conference, ‘Emerging and contemporary social issues: the place of social work education and practice in Nigeria’ is very apt and timely because there is much social workers can do to help the country”, the Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic said.

The Head, Department of Social Work and first Professor of Social Work in Nigeria, Prof UzomaOderaOkoye said that the conference provided avenue for practitioners and teachers of social work in Nigeria to come together and deliberate on emerging social problems and their solutions in the country.

“The theme of the conference provides us with an opportunity to share ideas on how to develop solutions to contemporary social work problems that traditional social work methods cannot solve,” Prof Okoye said.

She said that many social problems in Nigeria, such as terrorism, illegal migration, herdsmen attach and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were new and could not be solved by existing theories, models and perspectives in traditional social work texts.

Prof Okoye said that the conference was meant to remind social workers of their responsibilities to the Nigerian society and the need for them to rise to the challenge.

In attendance at the conference were German Scholars on exchange programme in the Department of Social Work, UNN; representatives from FRSC, NDLEA, NAPTIP and social work teachers from different universities in Nigeria.

•Photo shows UNN VC, Prof Ozumba (Middle), German Scholars on Exchange Programme and some delegates to the conference after their courtesy visit on the VC

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