EXCERPTS OF HISTORY OF CASSON

The practice of Counselling as a helping profession is chronicled in many books that have been written by the Founding Fathers of Counselling Association of Nigeria. Much of the history captures how Reverend Sisters at St. Theresas College, Ibadan Western Nigeria in the 1950’s and 1960’s institutionalized the events of Careers Day for students as a platform for motivating them for appropriate career choices (Makinde, 1986). The efforts of Rev. Sisters later metamorphosed into the coming into being of the Ibadan Careers Council as a formal platform for promoting career counselling practice in schools across the then Western Region of Nigeria.

No doubt, these pioneer efforts served as the foundation for the various bureaucratic initiatives in the Federal Ministry of Education in the 1980’s, resulting in the recognition of the need for school guidance and counselling programmes in the Nigerian National Policy on Education (1979, 1981).

When, therefore, the first of crop Nigerian academics who majored in the areas of Applied Psychology, Educational Psychology, Teacher Education and Guidance and Counselling began to introduce guidance and counselling courses in the Education Programmes of Universities in the country in the late 1970’s, a Movement of like-minded persons interested in advancing the essence of guidance and counselling began to emerge, both among bureaucrats in the Ministries of Education and Universities in Nigeria. The Universities of Ibadan and Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo) were in the forefront of that pioneer Movement. The myriad of interests coalesced into a gathering that is now the famous Inaugural Meeting of Counselling Association of Nigeria at the University of Ibadan.The Inaugural Meeting is today regarded as the Founding Event of Counselling Association of Nigeria. It is for these reasons that the Constitution states that "All persons present at the preliminary and inaugural meeting of the Association of November 15th, 1975 and June 17th, 1976 and all those who though absent but expressed the desire to be members at those times are admitted as Inaugural/Foundation Members." During the Inaugural Meeting, Steering Committee was formed preparatory to the Meeting to elect the pioneer Executive Members of the Association. This was held on 9th June 1976 and the following were returned as foundation officers to serve the Association for two years in the first instance.

NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION

At inauguration, the association was known as Counselling Association of Nigeria with the acronym of CAN. This name and acronym was maintained until at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the 16th National Conference which was held at Bayero University, Kano between the 17th and 21st August 1992 when it was resolved that the name of the association be retained but the acronym be changed to CASSON. Some of the reasons advanced for this change included: Its similarity with other existing associations such as Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN),Computer Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Its seeming affiliation with a religious grouping, Christian Association of Nigeria, thus excluding other religious groupings; and A probable difficulty in getting the name and, acronym registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for reasons given in (1) above. Since then, the association has been known and referred to as the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON).

CONSTITUTION

The Counselling Association of Nigeria is a National Professional body of trained, registered and Licensed Counsellors. It draws membership from all Educational Institutions, Prisons, the Health Sector, Schools, NGOs, Rehabilitating Centres, the media, Government Agencies, Individuals, Religious groups etc.

OBJECTIVES

To assist individual or corporate bodies to explore their environments discover their strength and weakness(es), (potentials) talents and skills, so as to determine their needs set personal realistic goals, and adjust suitably to achieve them in harmony with their environments. This is essential for every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of age. Categorically, guidance and counselling services are for everyone.

NEED FOR GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES IN NIGERIA

These are services render by Professional counsellors attempt to reduce vices, enhance stability of polity, ensures positive individual contributions to national growth and development, thereby assist in peaceful co-existence. To develop the nation, the individual is key and requires proper nurture and counselling.

THE PIONEER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

#	Name	Position
1	Dr. Olu Makinde	President
2	Dr. Olumide Kuti	Secretary
3	Mrs. Dayo Okusami	Treasurer
4	Dr. S. A.   Gesinde (now late)	Public Secretary
5	Dr. S. Feyi Daramola	Editor
6	Mr. Robson Momoh	Associate Editor
7	Professor E. A. Yoloye	Editorial Adviser
8	Professor M. O. Durojaiye	Editorial Adviser
9	Professor Adamu Baikie	Editorial Adviser
10	Professor Adeniyi Adaralegbe	Editorial Adviser
11	Dr. C. G.M. Bakare (now late)	Ex-officio Member
12	Rev. S.S. Awak-Essien	Ex-officio Member
13	Mrs. F. S. Robinson	Ex-officio Member
14	Mr. Y. F. Oyeyemi	Ex-officio Member

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (April 1996 - February, 2019)

#	Name	Year
1	Prof Olu Makinde - (Late)	April 1996 - February, 2019
2	Prof C.G.M Bakare - (Late)	April 1996 - February, 2019
3	Prof M.P. Mallum - (Late)	April 1996 - February, 2019
4	Prof Frank Carew	April 1996 - February, 2019
5	Dr. (Mrs) C. C. Achebe	April 1996 - February, 2019

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (March 2019 - to date)

#	Name	Year
1	Prof Frank Carew	March 2019 - to date
2	Prof Ayo Hammed	March 2019 - to date
3	Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Yakasai	March 2019 - to date
4	Prof Bulama Kagu	March 2019 - to date
5	Dr. (Mrs) Pat Nwamuo	March 2019 - to date
6	Prof Olaniyi Bojuwoye	March 2019 - to date
7	Prof Daniel Denga	March 2019 - to date
8	Prof Ibrahim Kolo (Late)	March 2019 - to date
9	Prof (Mrs) Elizabeth .O. Egbochuku	March 2019 - to date
10	Prof (Mrs) Roibito Ekpiken-Ekanem	March 2019 - to date

CONCLUSION

Guidance and Counselling services are an essential part of an individual, the society and the nation; irrespective of age, race, nationality, faith, occupation etc. It is for all.