The National President

Pleasantries:
Distinguished Cassonites, I stand before you as a colleague who believes deeply in the power of our shared profession to transform industries, strengthen communities, and advance knowledge. Over the years, I have seen first-hand the dedication, skill, and innovation each of you brings to your work. Yet, I have also heard your concerns — about recognition, opportunities, resources, and the challenges facing our profession in an ever evolving world. I am not however oblivious of the fundamental efforts and foundations laid down by our past leaders, especially in the last six years, yet a lot more needs to be done.

I therefore sincerely thank you all for the trust reposed in me by your unanimous votes for me as president of our dear association, the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) because I believe as a leader, I can together with all of us create a stronger voice for our members, foster professional growth, and lead with integrity in every decision we make. My vision for our dear CASSON is for the Association to be the leading voice in counselling and human development at national and international levels by remaining a hub for professional growth where members find resources, mentorship and opportunities to thrive.

To actualize the above vision, I shall embark on the following core priorities:

1. Take further action on our ACT by ensuring that practical implementation begins. I would in liaison with the Board (Council) of the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) ensure that every aspect of the ACT becomes functional including Licensing for Professional Practice.
2. Our Secretariat Building-Let me salute our members and past leaders on the great work they have done so far on the secretariat building. It would appear however that the building project requires more financial input than members can cope with. I sense we are already breathing heavily under the financial weight of the levies and donations for the secretariat. It is therefore time to look beyond members’ financial contributions to companies and multi-nationals for funding this building through appeals and grant writing. On this I estimate that by August 2028, the building would be 95% completed.
3. Ensuring more visibility through our publications. Many of us here are academics who rely on our journal publications for promotion. Many academic institutions now require these publications to be in journals that are indexed by well known indexing bodies, among which are Scopus, Schimago, and Thomson Reuters. I will mobilize effort towards ensuring that our journal, the COUNSELLOR is indexed by at least one of these indexing bodies on or before December, 2026.
4. Membership Drive-To make for sustainability of our dear association, there is need for continual inflow of members to replace retired members who no longer attend our conferences as well as members who have been called home by their maker. My membership drive will be at two levels; reawakening sleeping chapters as in the case of the once vibrant Imo State Chapter and; advocacy visits for employment to state governments who still feel reluctant employing counsellors. This will begin from November 2025 through my entire tenure.
5. Renaming Counselling Departments and Uniformity in Curricular across Universities- We have since agreed that our department should be called Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies in our universities. I also chaired the committee for the uniformity of counselling curriculum in our universities with report submitted since the last NDDC. These twin issues are dear to this association, even though the National Universities Commission appears to be standing on our way. I shall therefore mobilize effort towards ensuring their achievement on or before April 2027.
6. Refocusing our Conferences- Of late, our conference has become a jamboree. My wish is to refocus our conferences to become more professional and academic. This will take immediate effect with the August 2026 conference.
7. Strengthening the various arms/structures of CASSON-There is need to strengthen both the CPCN and the Counselling Institute which are all CASSON structures in tune with the law so they can deliver on their mandates to ensure efficiency. This will happen on or before April, 2026.

My Commitment to You having been entrusted with the presidency is that I will lead with transparency; ensuring members have full insight into decisions and finances; foster a culture of collaboration where every member’s voice matters; maintain a result-oriented focus while delivering tangible benefits within my term.

Closing Call:
As I end this address, may I remind you that we are more than an association — we are a movement of passionate professionals dedicated to excellence. With your trust, we will elevate our collective voice, empower each member, and secure our profession’s place in the future. I therefore humbly thank you all for the massive votes you have given me and solicit your partnership in this journey. Together, we will achieve more than any of us could alone.

Thank You,

PROF. Ike Chunuwe Sarduana IFELUNNI
National President