Skip to main content Skip to local navigation

“Exploring a New Direction for Social Work Education and Training in Nigeria”, Social Work Education – The International Journal, 27 (3), 229-242

Home » Addressing Anti-Black Racism » Recommended Readings & Films » “Exploring a New Direction for Social Work Education and Training in Nigeria”, Social Work Education – The International Journal, 27 (3), 229-242

“Exploring a New Direction for Social Work Education and Training in Nigeria”, Social Work Education – The International Journal, 27 (3), 229-242

American and British models of professional social work that have been exported to Africa have been critiqued as unable to address the unique issues and cultural characteristics of the majority of Africans. Such critiques have increased as the social work profession in the Western world has failed to come up with answers to many of its own most vexing social problems. African social work educators are therefore questioning the borrowing of such ‘problematic’ Western social work knowledge. This paper critically reviews the challenges for social work education and training in Nigeria of this Western-influenced social work legacy that is largely remedial in nature and underpinned by the charity and casework model that locates problems within individuals and their families. Building on recent scholarship, personal experiences of schooling and working in Africa and the West, as well as experiences from collaborating on a project with colleagues in a social work program in a Nigerian university, three issues are put forth that could guide an exploration of a new direction for social work education in Nigeria.Identifier ISSN: 0261-5479

About the Author

Uzo Anucha is an Associate Professor in York University’s Department of Social Work and the founding director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group. Her work and research interests include homelessness and under-housing; immigration and diversity; community-based research; critical positive youth development; social work; international social work.

Other publications from this author include:

Categories: