Indigenous knowledge and social work education in Nigeria: challenges and need for sustainable development

Nnama-Okechukwu, C, McLaughlin, H ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3916-0506, Okoye, U, Hendricks, E, Imaan, L, Malinga, T, Wizi-Kambala, A, Ebimgbo, S, Veta, O and Imo, N (2023) Indigenous knowledge and social work education in Nigeria: challenges and need for sustainable development. International Social Work, 66 (6). pp. 1857-1871. ISSN 0020-8728

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Abstract

Social work education in Africa is faced with a myriad of challenges that require immediate attention for a sustainable future. If the principles of social justice, human rights and respect for diversities are central to the social work profession, then the education and practice of social work in Nigeria should be culturally relevant in engaging people and structures to address challenges. Participants for the study included four social work educators, 10 social work students and four social work practitioners. Findings from the research suggest the need for a paradigm shift from Western pedagogy to a more inclusive Nigerian pedagogy for a sustainable future.