The Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) has once again stressed the importance of counselling for all.
The President of the Counselling Association of Nigeria, (CASSON), Prof. Elizabeth Omotunde Egbochuku made this assertion while addressing a press conference recently in Abuja.
She expressed her joy for the Counselling Practitioners’ Act 2022 which was signed recently by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to her, counselling is centrifugally a school-based activity.
She noted that counselling help learners to actualize their academic potentials in order to make appropriate career decisions.
The statement further hinted that the goals of the association remain central to its core professional focus, emphasizing however, that with the establishment of and the subsequent passage of the CASSON bill by the National Assembly, the Counselling Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (CASSON) is now in a position to offer much more services to the nation.
The association commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the bill, saying that the 27th day of June 2022, the day the nation’s President signed the bill into law marks the beginning of a new era, 26years after the association got its first certificate of registration, on the 22nd of April 1996.
The association reiterated that following its resolve to fasttrack its developmental processes during its first stages of registration, some renowned counselling practitioners were duly appointed as members of trustees of the profession.
The trustees so appointed in the profession’s early stages according the association were, Professors Olu Makinde, C.G.M. Bakare, M. P Mallum, Frank Carew and Dr.(Mrs) C.C. Achebe, stating however that on the 14th day of March 2019, the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) went back to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to update its certificate of registration.
Meanwhile, the association has said the trustees previously registered on the 22nd day of April 1996 have by a special resolution, reconstituted her Board of Trustees as follows:
They are, Professors Frank Carew, Ayo Hammed, Mohammed Ibrahim Yakassai, as well as Bulama Kagu.
Others are, Dr.(Mrs) Pat Nwamuo Prof. Olaniyi Bojuwoye, Prof. Daniel Denga, Prof. Ibrahim Kolo, Prof. (Mrs) Elizabeth O. Egbochuku, and Prof. (Mrs) Roibito Ekanem.
According to the association, Prof. Carew is the only trustee in the first Corporate Affairs Commission’s (CAC) registration that is still active and very much with the association.
The association’s statement added that the Counselling Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria bill seeks to establish the Counselling Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria for the conduct of qualifying examinations, regulating the counselling profession, and determining standard of knowledge and skill required of persons seeking to become members of the Counselling Profession in Nigeria.
According to the CASSON, the bill was first read on the floor of the Senate on the first of March 2018, saying that a professional counsellor is a highly trained individual who is able to use different range of counselling approach with their client to resolve personal, social, or psychological issues (problems and difficulties).
The association said: “Counselling profession in the country is a practice that seeks to improve psychological wellbeing and mental health of our contemporary society.”
“Professional counsellors are trained to counsel clients in trauma and abuse, addictions, family, and relationships issues, problems and many more.
“Effective counselling reduces confusion by enabling the client to make informed decisions leading to positive changes in their attitude and or behaviour.”
“The ultimate aim of counselling is to assist the client make their own choices, reach their own decisions and act upon them accordingly”.
CASSON added that: “Professional Counsellors maintain professional relationships of trust that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals.”
“Counsellors work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they face.
“The Counselling association of Nigeria was founded on the 15th of November 1975 to ensure human psychological growth and development, and advancement of the counselling profession.”
“The association is structured into Icons, Fellows, Associate Fellows, Associate Members, Honorary Members, Full-time Members, and Student Membership who possesses the necessary requirements as stipulated in the association’s constitution.”
“Its membership cuts across all the states of the Federation with 37 chapters.
“The association also has a Board of Trustees, Grand Patrons and Patrons that help to shape and guide its affairs”.
