The Lagos chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASOW) has elected Modupe Sahid-Adebambo as its new chairman, ushering in what she called “a new chapter” for the professional body committed to social justice and advocacy.
The elections, which took place during the association’s April general meeting, also saw the emergence of other executive members into key leadership roles.
Kafayat Bakare was elected vice chairperson, Lilian Anyebe as general secretary and Olusegun Okisanya as assistant general secretary.
Other officers include Martha Olaiya as financial secretary, Idris Also as auditor, Olufemi Silas as programme officer, Tessy Ozobialu as public relations officer, Oluwakemi Oguntoyinbo as welfare officer, Saheed Dabiri as treasurer and Morayo Laminisa as ex-officio member.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Sahid-Adebambo, who serves as the head of adoption and fostering services in Lagos State, described her election as more than symbolic.
“Today is not just a ceremonial transition; it is a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to service and to the dignity of every human life. It is a historic moment for me to stand before you as a vessel to drive change and restore confidence and hope in the profession we all are proud of,” she said.
She reaffirmed the central mission of social workers, describing them as more than just professionals.
“As social workers, we are more than professionals; we are agents of change. In a world that often turns a blind eye to inequality, we have chosen to step forward and be voices for the voiceless, give hope to the hopeless, and give strength to the vulnerable.”
Sahid-Adebambo also called on social workers across Nigeria to join hands in moving the profession forward and to renew their sense of purpose.
“We must enhance our association’s image and professional reputation through positive change by prioritising honesty, integrity, and purpose-driven decision-making. We have to empower our members by creating opportunities for growth and development and build strong partnerships by fostering collaborations that will be beneficial to our association.”
She emphasised the importance of unity and active participation, noting that growth depends on members’ commitment.
“The growth of any association is in the hands of her members, through wholehearted participation and commitment… Irrespective of past misgivings or perceptions, the time is now for us all to come together as one to fulfil our yearnings of fast-tracking the progress of our association.”
She concluded with a call to action, “The task ahead is onerous, but I have confidence in our collective ability to come together to promote the dignity of our profession. The work ahead will require unity, innovation, and an unshakable belief in the values of our profession. Let us embrace collaboration over competition, solutions over silence, and action over apathy. Together, let us move forward, empowered by our mission, inspired by our shared vision, motivated by our commitment to humanity, and anchored by the belief that social justice is not just an ideal, but a responsibility.”
