Psychological Challenges for Democratic Governance and

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2014 NIGERIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE & GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THEUNIVERSITYOF
NIGERIA, NSUKKA.NIGERIA ON THE 28TH NOVEMBER 2014
INTRODUCTION
The 2014 Annual Scientific Conference of Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) took place
from 25th – 29th November 2014 at University of Nigeria Nsukka. This coincided with the
celebration of 50 years of Psychological practice in Nigeria. The theme of the conference was 50
YEARS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA: BREAKTHROUGHS AND
EMERGING CHALLENGES.
The opening ceremony took place on the 26th with Key note address presented by Lt. Gen C.I
Obiakor (Rtd), OFR. The topic of his presentation was: Warfare and Peacekeeping:
Psychological Challenges for Democratic Governance and Diplomacy in Africa. He
highlighted the nature of conflicts in Africa which includes cultural, ethnic, work-family and
armed conflicts. He affirmed the critical roles of Psychologists in managing these conflicts.
The official opening began with procession by the fellows and the National Executive Council of
the Association. Welcome addresses were presented by the Vice Chancellor of University of
Nigeria, Nsukka - Prof. Benjamin C. Ozumba who was represented by the Dean of the faculty of
the social sciences – Prof. I.A Madu. The Head of Department of Psychology – Dr. Chris
Uzondu also gave his welcome address. The President of the Association; Dr Andrew Zamani in
his welcome address congratulated all participants for being part of the conference and the 50th
Anniversary of Psychology in Nigeria. He opined that it should no longer be heard in the next
few years that Psychological practice in Nigeria is not regulated by appropriate laws. He called
on the Federal Government to accord psychologists appropriate space in the management of
conflict, peace building, trauma healing and the implementation of correctional and
deradicalization programmes of hardcore criminal and insurgents/terrorists.
The AIG Mobile Police force- Mr Festus Osita Uyanna (Represented by DSP Abdulmalik
Haruna) gave a good- will message and charged the Association to guard the noble Profession of
Psychology jealously and not allow other charlatans to usurp their roles. Seven distinguished
members of NPA were conferred with the Fellowship Award of the Association. Two Eminent
Vice Chancellors; Professor Benjamin Ozumba of University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Prof.
Mohammad Akaro Mainoma of Nasarawa State University-|Keffi, were also recognized
with the prestigious award of The Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Psychological
Association. The key note speaker: Lt. Gen C.I. Obiakor was accorded the prestigious position
of the Grand Patron of the Association.
The award ceremony was followed by the formal inauguration and meetings of various
Divisions of the Association. The Divisions that met were as follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
Clinical
Industrial/Organizational
Social
Developmental
Experimental
Gender
Counselling
Forensic
Legal, Criminological and security Psychology, and others
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x.
xi.
Graduate
Students
Day 2
The scientific presentations began in day 2 of the conference. There were three major themes for
the scientific sessions which are;
i.
ii.
iii.
Challenges to National development and Psychological Practice
Organizational Behaviour, Leadership and Creativity
Psychological Assessment and Well.-being
Over 1,000 individuals participated in the conference comprising 550 register members and 450
students of Psychology and others. In all, 127 papers were presented cutting across the three key
themes.
There was a meeting of fellows and members of the National Executive Council with the Grand
Patron .The meeting provided a forum to interact with the Grand Patron and chart the way
forward for Psychology in Nigeria. A cocktail party was held on the evening of day two where
members interacted in a relaxed mood with the senior colleagues, the President and the Grand
Patron of the Association.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2014 Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Psychological Association started at 11:27 am with
an opening prayer. This was followed by reading of the minutes of the previous meeting which
was subsequently adopted. The following issues were raised and the final decisions are presented
as follows;
S/N Items
1
Quality Assurance
(Those who do not study
Psychology in their first
degree
practising
as
Psychologist)
2
Qualification for Practice as
a Professional Psychologist
3
Continuing
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Education
in
Decision
i. Grandfather rules pronounced by the AGM in 2009
to be implemented for those already in the
membership of the Association and are currently in an
academic Masters Degree programme without a first
degree in Psychology who should be given a grace
period of at most two years[ 2014-2016] to graduate
ii. Those who do not have Psychology background but
qualify under the grandfather clause will update
through Continuing Education training
iii. Henceforth, anyone without a first degree in
Psychology shall not be admitted for Master’s Degree
Programme of Nigerian Universities
i. An individual must obtain
a first degree in
Psychology (from 2015 onward)
ii. Must have completed a one year academic work in
Psychology in a Master’s Programme
iii. Must also complete a compulsory one year multiple
clinical/ placement internship in accredited
institutions
iv. A PhD degree will be required in future to obtain the
Licence to practice as a Professional Psychologist
i. This was considered as a way of addressing gap in
Psychology
knowledge
ii. Providing an opportunity for continuous quality
improvement
iii. Provides opportunity for those who do not have
background in Psychology but admitted under the
grandfather clause to measure up
iv. Prof S.K Balogun was unanimously voted as the
Director for the Education and Training following his
nomination by the President. He will chart a way
forward for the programme.
4
Enforcement of decision on
standard of Practice across
institutions
5
Report on Pan Africa
Psychology Union (PAPU)
6
Institutional Membership
i. Since the decision about the standard of practice in
Psychology was made at Annual General Meeting, it
is binding on all Universities in Nigeria
ii. There will be a meeting of Fellows and HoDs of
Dept. of Psychology across Institutions in the first
quota of 2015 where issue of enforcement will be
emphasised
iii. There will be continuous advocacy and sensitization to
ensure effective implementation of all agreed policies
i. The psn African Psychology has finally been launched
with Professor Saths Cooper as President,Bame
Nsamenang as President Elect and Charles Mate Cole
as Secretary. Andrew Zamani , the NPA president is
and executive council member
ii. There are three membership categories relevant to
members of the Congress as follows;
 University membership
 Student membership
 Individual membership
iii. The procedure for membership to be shared with
NPA members for registration through the NPA
iv. Psychology in Nigeria should contribute funds to to
support PAPU in addition to her annual dues. The
sum of 2000 USD was suggested.
v. Membership registration fee is N20,000 and annual
dues is N50,000 commencing from November 28th
2014
i. Universities were encouraged to register as
Institutional Members of the Association as
follows
Pay N20,000 registration fee and N50,000
annual subscription
7
Annual
Management
3|Page
Conference The President reported that NEC had endorsed the
proposal by the Nigerian Association of Clinical
Psychologists for a single mega conference to hold
annually with all the divisions of the Association making a
major contribution. The proposal was unanimously
adopted. By this, it was envisioned a single scientific
committee will be appointed for each successive
conference and that a day will be dedicated to Divisional
Conferences within the Annual Conference at the end of
which there will be convergence at the AGM. Conference
themes and venues will henceforth be announced in good
time.
8
Report
from
Local
Organizing Committee of
the 2014 @ the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka.
9
Presentation of Psychology
Anthem
10
Nigerian
Journal
11
Presentation of Annual
Financial Report
Presentation of reports by
each division
12
Psychological
12
Mentorship for upcoming
and Student members
13
Constitutional Issues
4|Page
A brief report of the conference was presented by Dr
Amazue on behalf of the Local Organizing Committee
(LoC). He noted the huge participation of members and
students . The President commended the Committee and
the Department for the great job they had done.
i. The Anthem was presented by Dr Eukay Emmanuel
ii. The Anthem was chanted for the first time at the
2014 Annual Nigerian Psychological Conference.
iii. It was presented to the President for review and
possible adoption
i. The Nigerian Journal of Psychology had been
moribund before the advent of the Nigerian
Psychological Research.
ii. Two editions of the latter had already been published
within one year with volume 2 having an index
number
iii. About two additional editions would be required to to
be indexed by African Journal Online to make it
international
The report was presented and adopted for external
auditing.
Each division presented the report/minutes of their
divisional meeting as follows;
 Clinical Psychology
 Counselling Psychology
 Experimental
 Gender
 Forensic
 Graduate members
 Student members
 Developmental
 The Social and Industrial Organizational Divisions
did nor present reports
A list of mentors was collected, with the President
assuring the younger Psychologists (Graduate and student
Members) of prospects for getting mentors to support
their dreams and aspirations. This is to address lack of
effective guidance to the upcoming members
i. The National Executive Council presented the list
of the following distinguished members of the
Association for ratification by congress as
additional members of the Board of Trustees:.
 Professor Helen
Osinowo
(University
of Ibadan)
 Dr Esther Akinsola
( University of
Lagos)

Professor Amechi Nweze
(Nasarawa State
University)
 Prof. Obot
(University of Uyo)
They join the following:
 Professor Felix Uzoka
(Nnamdi Azikwe
University, Akwa)
 Prof. Olatunde Makanju
(University of
Lagos)
 Mrs Margret Ibida (Federal University,Wukari )
ii.


14
Extraordinary Motion on
Tenure Elongation


15
Decision
Conference.
on
next

There is the need to review the constitution and
some of the changes expected to be included in
the review include;
Qualification for the
Fellowship of the
Association which should comprise members who
have attended AGM for five consecutive times
among other criteria
Qualification for Associate Membership to allow
younger members to serve in strategic positions.
Participation in three consecutive AGM will be the
minimum qualification.
Based on the very impressive performance of the
current Executives, a very strong proposal was
moved as an item under AOB by Professor Helen
Osinowo that the current team should continue in
office till 2017. The President reminded the AGM
that the NEC was already surviving a second term
which will expire in 2015 and that it would not be
constitutional to do so. Following the unanimous
support for the proposal the President guided the
AGM to propose a motion for a bye-law which wa
s proposed by Prof Osinowo and seconded by Rev
Fr .... There was no counter motion. It was
therefore unanimously passed that the current
NEC should stay on till 2017 with a succession
plan for a President elect to be voted in 2016.
This is to particularly allow them to conclude
legislative process which is in progress
AGM voted for Benin to be the next venue of the
2015 Conference
MEMBERS OF RAPPATEUR/COMMUNIQUE COMMITTEE
S/
N
NAME
1
Professor Helen Universaity
Osinowo
Ibadan
Dr
Yemi Association
Atibioke
Reproductive
2
5|Page
INSTITUTION
TELEPHO
NE
NUMBERS
of 08079226338
for 08035792603
and
Email
addresses
helenosinowo
@yahoo.com
yemitibioke@y
ahoo.com
Chairperson
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
family
Health
(ARFH)
Rev. (Dr) Mary University of Nigeri 08038243959
Basil Nwoke
Nzukka
Dr
Esther University of Lagos 08055481270
Foluke Akinsola
Dr
Valentine University
of
Chijioke Ezeh
Nigeria, Nsukka
Dr Aroyewun B. Federal
Neuro 08029287349
Afolabi
Psychiatric Hospital,
Benin
Dr Charles S. College of Medicine 08035744126
Umeh
, University of
Lagos, Idiaraba
Dr
Bolajoko University of Lagos 08023292250
Ibiyemi Malomo
Dr Ben Agoha
Covenant
08023213131
University
6|Page
Secretary
marybasilnwok
e@yahoo.com
foluk6@yahoo.
com
Member
Member
Member
goodnewsafola
bi@yahoo.com
Member
ucharles@yaho
o.com
Member
bolajokomalom
o@yahoo.com
bencagoha@ya
hoo.co.uk
Member
Member