Nigeria trains Counsellors across Ministries on rehabilitation

By Rahila Lassa, Abuja

The Nigerian Government says it is committed to prioritising the new Counselling Strategies in the society.

Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in Nigeria, said this in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on National Counselling Strategy in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nura Alkali said it became imperative to hold the training to enable Counsellors cope and adjust with the new strategies.

According to him, it’s only when Counsellors are effectively trained that counselees could come to terms with the reality of their environment and efficiently deal with the challenges.

“The profession is confronted with series of issues and challenges, but the existence of a draft National Policy on Counselling strategy in Nigeria is an indicative of its commitment to Nigerians,” he said.

Alkali further stated that Nigeria is faced with scarce resources and in times of economic constraints, poor or limited social welfare programming tends to be the norm.

More Trained Counsellors
Also speaking at the event, the Director, Social Development in the Ministry, Dorothy Nwodo said there was need for more trained Counsellors in Nigeria to effectively curb the rising cases of drug abuse, insecurity, banditry and other Social vices especially amongst the youths in the face of Covid-19.

Dr Nwodo added that the Ministry was also looking at expanding the training to accommodate more people across the Federation.

The trainer and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Abuja, Dr Ocholi said Counselling was meant for professionals.

“Counselling has been here for a time but the problem has been recognition,”  she noted.

CHALLENGES:

-Lack of appraisal tools

-Poor physical facilities

-Inadequate communication skills by Counsellors with teachers, administrators, students and parents

-High ratio of students to Counsellors

-Counsellors  lack of power to influence change

-Lack of sufficient funding for guidance activities

-Poor information Communication Technology compliance.

Confidence Okwuchi