By Abasi Ita
The Department of Social Work at Rivers State University,Nkpolo-Oroworukwa has called on Nigerians to embrace the East African philosophy of Harambee, meaning “all pull together,” as a strategy to tackle rising inequality and social injustice across the country.
The appeal was made by the Head of Department, Prof. Mina Ogbanga, during a media briefing to mark the 2026 World Social Work Day celebrations. She emphasized that the global theme, Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society, served as a rallying point not only for the university but for the nation as a whole.
Prof. Ogbanga highlighted the evolving role of social work as a professional, evidence-based discipline essential for addressing contemporary challenges such as economic instability, internal displacement, and the mental health consequences of social fragmentation.
She commended social workers in the Niger Delta for their frontline role in tackling youth restiveness and environmental displacement, describing them as “the architects of social cohesion who require proper legal frameworks and stakeholder collaboration to be fully effective.”
To translate the celebration into action, the department proposed several reforms. They called on the government to fully operationalize the Council for Social Work in Nigeria to eliminate quackery and protect vulnerable populations. Prof. Ogbanga also urged that social workers be embedded in every Primary Healthcare Centre across Rivers State to manage social determinants of health, including domestic violence and malnutrition. Furthermore, the department recommended establishing a State Social Welfare Trust Fund to transition from reactive charity to sustainable social protection programs, updating curricula to incorporate indigenous philosophies such as Ubuntu and Harambee, and investing in digital tools for case management and emergency response.
Prof. Ogbanga emphasized the need to change public perception of social work, urging Nigerians to recognize practitioners as professional allies in family mediation and mental health rather than officials who merely “take children away.” She also encouraged the private sector to move beyond ad hoc donations and adopt structured CSR initiatives that deliver measurable community impact in partnership with the university.
Looking ahead, she announced plans to expand the Department’s Community Outreach and Field Practicum programs, enabling students to work directly with communities in Port Harcourt and across the Niger Delta. “Hope is not a passive wish; it is a co-built reality,” Prof. Ogbanga concluded, adding that by embracing the Harambee philosophy, Nigerians can pool their resources, intellect, and empathy to build a Rivers State where no one is left behind.