It is with pleasure and privilege that, IFSW Africa warmly welcomes you to the IFSW joint regional Conference hosted by the Nigeria Association of Social Workers in Lagos. The conference is themed: "Emerging Social Problems in Africa: The Response of Social Work Practice". Social workers in Africa grapple with problems that include but are not limited to war, climate change, and poverty. The conference theme acknowledges the profession's role in bringing about positive change in African people's lives.

The participation of diverse professionals, academics, policymakers, and civic society gives this conference character and richness in debate, information, sharing, and interaction of ideas, experiences, and oneness in the quest to work with people to bring about the change they desire in their lives.

As is now the norm, this conference will have space for youthful and student social workers, allowing them to interact, debate and dialogue enriching professional continuity, alternative voices, diversity and youthful ideas and approaches to emerging social problems in Africa.This will be through debate, information sharing interaction of ideas, experiences and oneness. In addition, the conference will tap into renowned keynote speakers and presentations from practice and the academia. The conference thus presents a professional opportunity for professional interaction and robust exchanges.

Come join IFSW, the Nigeria Association of Social Workers in Lagos, and our Partners from different parts of Africa sharing professional experiences. We look forward to your participation in Lagos Nigeria in November 2023.

I welcome you to Lagos, the business hub of Nigeria. The theme of the conference "Emerging Social Problems in Africa: The Response of Social Work Practice", is carefully chosen in line with the socio-economic challenges facing the African continent. It is therefore an opportunity for all Social Workers across the globe to respond through researches and various contributions.

It is no longer news that the African race is going through series of developmental crises - human rights abuse, systemic corruption, gender-based violence, youth restiveness, high rate of unemployment, poverty, banditry, illegal mining, weak social protection, to mention a few.

I see the Conference as an important platform to address these problems as we collectively seek for a new social order that will usher in a better future for Africa and Africans, a future that will bring peace, opportunity and prosperity to the continent.

The conference is expected to evolve new policies of actions as well as practices that will lead to a fair, just, and brighter Africa. It is an opportunity to share experiences.

I once more welcome you to the most populous Country in Africa. I hope you will have a pleasant stay in this beautiful industrial and commercial city of Lagos, our Centre of Excellence.