Enhancing the relevance of social work education in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Quality locally relevant social work education is essential in social workers’ professional development and, in Nigeria, in the profession’s struggle for legitimacy and connection with local families and communities. It is also pivotal to efficient and effective service delivery in the contemporary digitally connected world, where myriad social issues warrant the professional intervention of skilled practitioners in diverse fields. Social workers’ responsiveness and effectiveness depend crucially on the quality and relevance of the education and training they receive at the start of and throughout their professional careers. This article examines social work education, its relatively recent origins and issues in contemporary Nigerian society highlighting the ongoing need for socio-cultural relevance in the interests of professional recognition. It proposes that social work educators and administrators have a crucial role to play in enhancing the profession’s relevance and suggests a way forward.