Veta Oghenechoja Dennis, Atiku Abdullateef Abiodun

Keywords: Nigeria, development programmes, sustainable development, social work educators, social work practitioners, social work

Abstract

Globally, the involvement of professionally qualified social workers in development programmes is significant to achieving sustainable
development. Since independence in 1960, successive Nigerian governments have established various development programmes to eradicate poverty. The study argues that sustainable development has not
yet been achieved in Nigeria due to the limited involvement of qualified social workers. Thus, the study used a qualitative research design, utilising purposive and snowball sampling techniques which involves 19 in-depth interview (IDI) participants from Ilorin and Asaba towns in Nigeria. The study’s findings revealed that the involvement of social workers is relevant to attaining sustainability in Nigeria’s development programmes. Despite the relevance, participants indicated a low participation of social workers due to many critical challenges, including unspecified role of social workers resulting in the involvement of non-social work graduates playing the role of social workers, inadequate funding, a low presence of social workers at the macro/policy level of practice, a lack of autonomous regulatory body, and inadequate political will to execute sustainable programmes. In response to these challenges, the study identified strategies for adequate involvement of social workers in Nigeria. It recommends the establishment of an autonomous social work regulatory body, the formulation of adequate development policies that prioritise poverty eradication programmes, and the proper involvement of social workers for effective practice and sustainability in Nigerian development programmes.

Author Biography

Veta Oghenechoja Dennis, Atiku Abdullateef Abiodun

Department of Social Work, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Corresponding email: [email protected]

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