Oyo CASSON harps on inclusive counselling as tool for stability, national development

CHAIRMAN of the Oyo State Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), Dr Ndidi Ofole, says that the ongoing building of the youth-friendly centre of the association will go a long way to bring improvement to the academic performance of students in the state, curb the rising cases of misconducts, kidnapping for money and rituals and other vices rampant among the youths.

She said that this would be made possible due to the kind of services that would be provided by the crop of youth-friendly counselling professionals in a non-judgmental and conducive environment.

Dr Ofole spoke at the association’s 2022 state annual conference and awards ceremony with the theme, ‘Inclusive Counseling: Viable Tool For Peace, Stability and National Development’ held at the Assembly Hall of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, recently.

While highlighting some of the modest achievements of her administration, she noted that the most striking of them was hosting the 45th CASSON International Conference, raising the CASSON’s youth-friendly building to the window level and building the capacity of counselling psychologists in the state so as to enable them offer quality services using the latest Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Speaking about the conference, she said the theme of the conference was necessary at this point in time as an additional evidence to the need for inclusive counseling in achieving meaningful peace, stability and national development.

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She added that “the outcome of the conference was meant to prepare members of the association on how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) four, ‘leaving no one’ behind, especially in the counselling services.”

She congratulated the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr Temidayo Afolabi-Ige, and also lauded the efforts of the team members for organising a successful and well-executed conference.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, the lead paper presenter and dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Fakolade, said: “Inclusive counseling is invaluable and Nigerians should be made to understand this. This is because inclusive counseling is one of the veritable tools that could be utilised for the achievement of peace, stability and overall national development in such a developing country as ours.”

He also noted that “inclusive counselling can be used as a tool to achieve human capital development,” stating that counselling should therefore not just be talked about, but should be promoted to make necessary impacts in the development of the country.

He established that “there is a need for counseling to have a bearing in the Nigerian educational system and the society at large.

‘‘The present situation in Nigeria requires the training of more and efficient counsellors that will be able to reach out to all sectors and groups within the country.”

At the event, awards were given to citizens of the country who have demonstrated high level of commitment to the association, among whom were the Commissioner for Trade and Establishment, Mr Israel Olasunkanmi; head, Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, Professor Oyesoji Aremu, vice chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Timothy Adebayo; rector The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adebiyi; general coordinator, He Careth Motherless Orphange Home, Evang. Aminat Ali; director Image Counselling Clinic, Dr Olujimi Odeniyi; director, Lover and Family Foundation, Pastor(Mrs) Tope Abiara, vice principal, Islamic Day Secondary School, Mrs Aminat Arogundade, among others.

While appreciating the association for the honour bestowed on him by the association, the commissioner for trade and Establishment, Mr Israel Olasunkanmi, said that responsibility of guidance and counselors to the society cannot be overemphasised and they deserved to be honoured and respected.