Unfavourable govt policies, inadequate funding affects guidance/counselling practice in Nigeria — Obikeze
A Professor of Counselling Psychology at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, Prof Nnamdi Josephat Obikeze, has attributed inadequate funding, dearth of qualified and experienced Counsellors, incompetence among Counsellors, non-functioning professional bodies, proliferation and use of quasi-counsellors, and inadequate sensitization of citizens about Counselling Unfavourable government policies, over-dependence on government for support and non-uniformity of Counselling programmes in Universities are factors affecting Guidance and Counselling practice in Nigeria.
He said the situation has also discouraged many young Nigerians from enrolling in the practice.
Obikeze called on the government to urgently do something about it to save the profession from total collapse in the country.
According to him, guidance counsellors as professionals, are responsible to a number of people whom he are obliged to serve. These individuals and groups include the following: To Himself, To the Client, To the Employer, To the Association/Profession and the Society.
They assist people in fulfilling their needs, such as maximisation of potential, provision of information, liaison with other health professionals, development and use of Psychological tests, maintaining confidential records, and acting as Consultants Counselling against social vices, making referrals and acting as referees Conducting research.
Prof. Obikeze, who disclosed this while delivering the 12th Innaugural Lecture Series of the University, held at the Prof. Ben Nwazojie auditorium on the on the Igbariam campus on Tuesday, however, listed some principles that governed counselling practice in Nigeria, including: Beneficence: Obligation to protect the right of the client and prevent harm.
*Non-beneficence: the act of restraining from doing something that will cause harm to the client.
*Justice: the ability of the Counsellor or Therapist to treat everybody fairly and equally. Confidentially: keeping the affairs of the clients secret. Fidelity: being sincere and transparent, as well as keeping to the promise made during Counselling.
Others are: debriefing—notifying the clients of the likely consequences of the Counselling session so as to prepare their minds towards an event.
*Informed consent: acceptance or permission to participate in counselling activities. And there should be no use of force or compulsion, *Competence..
In conclusion, Obikeze, while advising Counselling Psychologist in Nigeria to adhere to the ethics of the profession and abide by the relevant existing laws of the land, suggested that erring counsellors should be tried and sanctioned if found guilty to act as deterrent to others and the recruitment of more Guidance Counsellor to work in schools and other organisations across sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The President General of the Awa community in Orumba North Council Area of the State, Dr. Raymond Ofor who spoke in the same vein while speaking to Journalists shortly after the event, urged the Federal government to fund Counselling practitioners in Nigeria, saying it will help retune the students in their academic pursuits.
The event was fully attended by the University community, including the Ag Vice Chancellor, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha who participated via visual.
