Daniel Agbolade

Members of Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), Oyo State chapter, have elected new leaders that will pilot affairs of the association for the next four years.

Those elected during the election which took place at the Conference Room of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Ibadan, include Mr. Ayodele Adegoke (Chairman), Mr. Yunus Tunde Abdulkareem (General Secretary), Mr Oladitan Salaudeen (Assistant General Secretary) and Olayemi Alabi (Treasurer).

Others are Titilola Awotunde (Financial Secretary), Tawa Tijani Abdullahi (Welfare Officer), Atanda A.A. (Public Relations Officer), Oluwatosin Obuene (Programme Officer), Zainab Akinyemi (Auditor) and Michael Godday (Students' Representative from the Department of Social Work, University of Ibadan).

The election was witnessed by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Atinuke Osunkoya and acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry and former Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Christianah Abioye, both represented by the Director of Social Welfare in the ministry, Mr. Sunday Kolajo.

Others at the event include an Associate Professor of Social Work in the department of Social Work, University of Ibadan and National Secretary, Nigeria Association of Social Work Educators (NASWE), Mr. James Ayangunna, Vice President (South West) of NASoW, Mr. Noah Omoyajo, Legal Adviser of NASoW, Mr. Tayo Ayoade and National Public Relations Officer of NASoW, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo, among others.

The Commissioner in her speech, urged members of the association to come together with a charge to set the pace.

She said, "Let us come together. NASoW started in Oyo State. We should not be a pace setter from the rear. The legacy of our past heroes should not be in vain. We have two people at the national level, Legal Adviser and PRO. Don't allow any sentiment to disunite us."

Adegoke in his acceptance speech, thanked members of the association for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the association, stating that though the tasks ahead may be enormous but with the collective resolve of all great success even exceeding their expectations will be achieved.