By Ovat Abeng
A Professor of Counselling Psychology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, Prof Nnamdi Josephat Obikeze, has attributed inadequate funding, death of qualified and experienced Counsellors, incompetence among Counsellors, non functioning professional bodies, proliferation and use of quasi Counsellors, inadequate sensitization of citizens about Counselling Unfavourable government policies, over dependence on government for support and non uniformity of Counselling programmes in Universities as factors affecting Guidance and Counselling practice in Nigeria.
He said the situation has also discouraged many young Nigerians from enrolling into the practice.
Obikeze called on the government to urgently do something about it to safe the profession from total collapsed in the country.
According to him, guidance counsellors as professional are responsible to a number of people whom he is obliged to service. These individuals and group include the following: To Himself To the Client To the Employer To the Association/Profession and To the Society.
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They assist people in fulfilling their needs such as maximization of potentials, provision of information, liaising with other health professionals development and use of Psychological tests, maintaining confidential records, acting as Consultant Counselling against social vices and 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 Prof Ben Nwazojie auditorium Igbariam campus, on Tuesday, however, list some principles that governed Counselling practice in Nigeria to include;: Beneficence: Obligation to protect the right of the client and prevent harm.
Non-beneficence-act of restraining from doing something that will cause harm to the client.
Justice- 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 the likely consequences of the Counselling session so as to prepare his mind towards an event.
Informed Consent- acceptance or permission to participate in counselling activities. And there should be no use of force or compulsion and *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 Counseillors 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 organization across sectors of Nigeria economy.
The President General of Awa community, in Orumba North Council Area of the State, Dr. Raymond Ofor who spoke on 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 pursue.
The event was fully attended by the University community including the Ag Vice Chancellor, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha who participated via visual.
