By Shulamite Owhoekevbo
In a strategic move to strengthen social work practice and enforce professional standards across the state, the Delta State Government has commenced a Master Class Up-Skill and Certification Training Programme for Social Work Officers in the Director cadre. The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Head of Service, Asaba.
Declaring the training open, the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, expressed delight at hosting the initiative, which she described as “a critical step in ensuring that only well-trained and ethically grounded professionals handle vulnerable populations in the state.” She commended the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Social Works, Mrs. Pally Eghovwre, for her foresight in organizing the training barely a year after attending the 15th Annual International Conference on Social Work in Oshogbo.
Dr. Oseji also paid tribute to her predecessor, Mr. Reginald Bayoko (mni), for laying a solid foundation that has continued to yield results, including sensitization programmes on autism cascaded across schools in Delta Central Senatorial District.
She noted that social workers play a crucial role in orphanages, care homes, hospitals, and other institutions catering to persons with disabilities, children with special needs, ex-convicts, and other vulnerable groups. According to her, the state must institute structures that ensure only certified professionals adhere to the code of ethics and avoid exploiting the vulnerable.
“The antidote to professional competition is professional excellence,” she emphasized, calling for collaboration between social workers and allied disciplines such as agricultural extension workers in overlapping areas.
Dr. Oseji further hinted that the state may present a memorandum at the National Council on Establishment meeting in Kano in December 2025, to integrate the new certification structure into the civil service scheme. She also endorsed online training modules as a cost-effective means of capacity development.
In his goodwill message, the immediate past Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, praised Mrs. Pally Eghovwre for her passion and leadership in championing professional development within the social work sector.
Describing the initiative as “an investment in leadership,” he urged civil servants to cooperate fully with the Head of Service and political leaders to sustain the momentum. He also challenged participants to ensure that “the effect of their work is larger than the office they occupy.”
Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Social Works, Mrs. Pally Eghovwre, explained that the initiative was born out of the need to address lapses in social work practice caused by untrained practitioners.
She noted that the Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, approved the programme in line with his unwavering commitment to quality and standards across all sectors, including infrastructure and human capacity development.
Mrs. Eghovwre emphasized that the training would be followed by the Social Work Proficiency Certificate Examination (SWPCE)—a prerequisite for obtaining a practice licence, stamp, and seal, as stipulated by the Social Work Establishment Act No. 25 of 2022.
“This training is not only to expand capabilities and close skill gaps but to ensure that Delta social workers practice in consonance with national laws and international best practices,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for his progressive leadership and commitment to workforce development, while thanking participants and stakeholders for their support.
The Master Class training represents a significant milestone in Delta State’s effort to professionalize social work, sanitize the sector, and equip officers with the requisite skills to deliver quality services to the most vulnerable members of society.