NEWSLETTER


THE PRESIDENT DECLARES A NEW DAWN

INTRODUCTION

History was made in Yerwa 2004; the election of the second female president of CASSON. Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to God for granting me the opporunity to be the President of this great assocaition. I am also grateful to all of you for giving me the golden opporunity to serve you. I will also quickly express my thanks to Drs. M.U. Ajoku and C.N. Ugwuegbulem for their understanding of the need for the survival of our great assocaition.

I wish to sincerely congratulate other executive members and use this medium to inform them that we have a great task to move this association of "helpers" to greater, greater and greater heights. I pray that God will give us the grace to build on what has been built as well as making a significant impact on all of us.

Our conference at the far North East end of the country was worth it. We witnessed the commitments made by Borno and Yobe Sate Governments to promote the counselling practice in our schools. We hope our counsellors are following the clues up. I will want to express our profound sympathy on behalf of CASSON to our members who were attacked by the men of the underworld and those who had accidents either on their way to or fro Yerwa 2004. I have already written to the affected colleagues. Let us all pray for journey mercies to and fro Calabar, 2005 this year.

The reality of Yerwa 2004 cannot be forgotten. I wondered how the two committed members would host an association such as ours. It was a clear demonstration of the might of commitment. I wish to congratulate Counsellor, Prof. Carew and his local organizing committee for their wonderful efforts. To bring two State Governors to grace our opening ceremony was a great experience for the association. We want to place on records our gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Deptuy Vice Chancellor and the Principal Officers of the University of Maiduguri for the fantastic dinner organzied for CASSON Fellows and the State Chairpersons.

There have been lots of changes in our association. I pledge to make relevant changes that will promote our growth. I also urge us to ensure that we impact the lives of our members, students and colleagues positively, since counselling is a creative force in the fabric of life.

MAIN ISSUES

1. Membership
   
   The immediate past president, Prof A.I. Idowu observed that there was a steady rise in our memberhip in our last edition of the Newsletter. In 2003 conference held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan a total of 30 State chapters were represented with five hundred and forty-two (542) delegates.
   
   However, at the NDC held at Jos 2003 the total number of active counsellors in the States as contained in the report given was two thousand, two hundred and thirty six (2,236). The number 542 represents 24.3% of our members. This increase in the number indicates that the number of counsellors who attend our national conference is still low. The State Chapter Chairperson still needs to work harder to increase the number of counsellors who attend our annual conference and participate actively. Every one of us should be engaged in this drive for membership. Please put into practice Prof. Idowu's adaptation of our renowned Professor 'Aliu Babs Fafunwa's method of "each one, bring one new member" I therefore expect everyone to bring one new member to Calabar. The Cross River chapter has invited us to "come and leave and be at rest" (full meaning of Calabar) from 15th-20th August, 2005. Be there to have rest from busy schedules for the few days.
   
   I want to conclude this section by congratulating Enugu, Lagos, Abia, Imo and Delta State chapters for their large contigents over the past four years.
   
   
2. Dues, Levies and Finances
   
   It is indeed difficult to make our members pay their dues. I implore the State chapters to ensure that all counsellors in their chapters pay their annual dues whether they attend the annual conferences or not. I suggest that chairpersons make arrangement for their counsellors to pay their dues instalmentally. I therefore expect greater improvement in our finances God helping our chairpersons. The chairpersons should also ensure that their students' state chapter (SCASSON) and inddivudal student register and pay their annual dues.
   
   
3. National Secretariat
   
   The past executive tried very hard to start the secretariat building on our land at Kuje in Abuja, but circumstances beyond their control made it impossible. The drawings of the first phase of the project are ready. The construction workers are doing excavation work on the site. They will be on site till March ending 2005.
   
   We sincerely hope to clear the site of all shrubs and bushes, and remove from site vegetable top soil (A of AUD 1 of 19) excavate vegetable top soil average 150 mm deep (B of AUD 1 of 19) by August, 2005. As these operations are going on, we will be pursueing the approval of the drawing by the Kuje Municipal Office in Abuja. Our member, Yahaya in Abuja is performing this task on our behalf. Based on these plans we implore all State chapters to come to Calabar ready to launch the secretariate to enable us start the project.
   
   
4. Certificate and Licensure Board (CALB)
   
   The Board has been reconstitued with the Vice President as the chairperson. The members include the immediate past President, a representative from each of the six geo-political zones, and two fellows. With the calibre of members, I expect that this matter will be laid to rest in Calabar.
   
   
5. State Chapters
   
   CASSON is spreading to almost all the states in the country. The records showed that gradually more states are being represented each year. I salute the state chairpersons. I want to challenge the neighbouring states of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Taraba, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, Niger, Akwa-Ibom to bring their members to Calabar, come August 2005. You should therefore start to invite and encourage them to get prepared to be at Calabar one of the nearest state in our nation. There will be free skill training and relaxation night. Do not miss these variety nights and the free skill training. State chapters should be vibrant with counselling activities on air and in the schools. Do not forget that counselling is a creative force in the fabric of life. Let us wake up and be alive to our professional responsibilities.
   
   
6. President's Cup
   
   I want to congratulate Lagos chapter, especially their chairperson for winning the President's cup for the past wo consecutive years. Will they take it this year again? My prayer is that as each state chapter works towards winning the president's cup, let us impact positively on the lives of the people around us for counselling is the fabric of life.
   
7. National Delegation Conference (NDC)
   
   The third edition of the NDC comes up in Ilorin, Kwara State between 30th March and 1st April 2005. You know what? The immediate Past President, Prof. A.I. Idowu is our host. As usual, all State chairpersons will be catered for by the National EXCO while other delegates from the states will be sponsored by their states. The new elected CALB members are expected to be inaugurated at this conference. National Exco members and all fellows are expected at the conference.
   
8. Book on Curriculum of Guidance and Counselling
   
   All State chairpersons should ensure that all counsellors in their states have a copy of this book
   

2005 NATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE

This association continues to improve upon the complaints made by members. One of such improvements is the reduction in the number of copies of paper to be presented. This year's paper presenters should bring only 50 copies of their papers. This year we are also offering training skills free of charge. This year we hope we will have writing materials in our bags. This association is for all of us. Continue to make your observations known and the Exco will continue to make efforts to ensure a hitch-free conference with your co-operation, patience and understanding.

This year we are going to the South East as against North East. We are being hosted by Calabar "the Canaan City". Well, what comes to your mind when you read the word Calabar? Erikanyiko and Afan?

Members of the Exco (Secreatry General, Treasurer and I) visited Calabar between 18th - 20th of January to assess the state of preparedness by our host state. The warm reception by the Chairperson and her team, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar and the NTA crew is a sign that the conference will be a memorable experience. Why not come to also share your humourous counselling experience, with us on the variety night the first day of the conference? See you at the CANAAN City!

REACHING OUT

There is the dire need for us to reach out to the community. Some of the ways we can reach out include:

1. As helpers, we need to help ourselves first. I therefore, call on all of us to visit our children in the various institutions, primary, secondary and tertiary instituions to monitor their activities. We should in turn emphasize this to the parents (PTA) of our students.
   
2. In this technological age, we need to provide online counselling services especially in the tertiary institutions where there are rape cases.
   
3. The University counsellors should endeavour to circulate copies of our journals and proceedings in their libraries. In fact, this is mandatory.
   
4. State Chapters should have regular televisions and radio programmes.
   
5. Departments of Guidance and Counselling in our institutions should have clinics.
   

CONCLUSION

I implore all of us to be helpers in our environment. I ask for your cooperation to enable the Exco to achieve all our goals. I like to tell you at Calabar vwa kobo ya, Ekabo, Nno, Sanu dazuwa. Be there for a short holiday. I want to remind us that counselling is a creative force in the fabric of life.

Therefore, be good role models; assist politicians to be good politicians, pastors to impact positively on the lives of their members, husbands and fathers to be good heads of the homes, wives to be good home builders etc. counselling is about improving the quality of lives of the people. How much of this are you doing?

God bless Nigeria
God bless CASSON
God bless all of you

Prof (Mrs) Otete C. Okobiah (FCASSON)

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