ABUJA, Nigeria – The Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON) has called on federal, state, and local governments to establish well-equipped counselling centres in schools to address rising social and psychological challenges across the country.
Speaking at the opening of APROCON’s 9th Annual International Conference on Wednesday, the association’s president, Osorochi Obi, emphasised the urgent need for institutional counselling frameworks that address youth conflict, mental health, and national unity.
“Effective conflict resolution is vital for national cohesion,” said Ms Obi, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU). “We are calling on government to support the establishment of school-based counselling centres that are functional, funded, and staffed.”
She stressed the need for counsellor educators to provide both theoretical and hands-on training to equip professionals for 21st-century challenges. Highlighting technology’s double-edged role in modern counselling, she added:
“We must strike a balance where technology supports, not supplants, our mission.”
The five-day international conference, themed around transformative counselling practices, explores mediation, arbitration, and alternative conflict resolution strategies.
Ms Obi also disclosed progress on the APROCON Bill, which she said will provide a legal and regulatory framework for private counselling practice once passed.
Declaring the event open, MOUAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, urged APROCON to lead the creation of a data-driven, inclusive national counselling framework.
“You have the tools. You have the training. What remains is the collective will to scale your expertise from the counselling room to the policy room,” he said.
In his keynote, the Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management representative, Okey Nworgu urged the association to expand counselling access beyond schools and prioritise evidence-based approaches.
source: (NAN| Edited by Africa Health Report)
