The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretariat in Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, recently hosted a significant professional competency training session organized by the executives of the Rivers State Counselling Association (RIVCASSON). The event aimed to equip counselors with essential skills for effectively running school counseling programs. Comrade Dr. Austine ThankGod Jonah, Chairman of the Counselling Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, expressed that this training is a milestone initiative designed to prepare counselors for the expanding responsibilities they face.
Themed “Equipping Counsellors To Run School Counseling Programs Professionally,” the session was attended by a substantial number of RIVCASSON members, dignitaries, and guest speakers. Esteemed speakers, including Professor Glory Amadi, Professor Rosemary Ekechukwu, and Dr. Kate White (representing Professor Comfort Agi), addressed topics such as ethical considerations in school counseling, essential counseling skills, and steps to establish a viable counseling unit.
The training highlighted crucial ethical values for counselors, such as confidentiality, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, empathy, and self-discipline. School counselors shared challenges they encounter, such as sexual harassment issues, limited office space, time constraints, students’ reluctance to open up, and interference from teachers and parents.
Dr. Jonah also announced RIVCASSON’s plan to establish counseling outreaches in schools across Rivers State. A notable upcoming project includes an anti-bullying campaign, where around 60 counselors will visit 60 schools to raise awareness on bullying prevention.
This training was open to a broad audience, including school managers, counselors, therapists, teachers, youth leaders, NGOs, and even children’s ministry instructors, fostering a collaborative approach to enhancing school counseling across the region.