APROCON Inducts UNILORIN graduands
By Bashir Dawodu
The Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON) has inducted graduands of the Guidance and Counselling Department of the University of Ilorin and other institutions into its membership as a way of further equipping them for professional practice.
Other institutions whose graduands were also inducted at the ceremony included Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin; Kwara State College of Education, Oro; and Kwara State College of Education, Lafiagi.
The event was held last Tuesday, (October 20, 2026) at the Education Lecture Theatre, University of Ilorin.
Speaking at the ceremony, the guest speaker and Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command, Dr Fatima Abiola Popoola, congratulated the graduands and welcomed them into the world of professional counselling, urging them to chart their own paths and make meaningful contributions to the society.
She noted that society needed professional counsellors and charged the inductees to uphold the ethics of the profession, build competence, embrace continuous learning, develop professional relationships,serve responsibly and protect their reputations.
Dr Popoola, a drug addiction counsellor, urged the new professionals to equip themselves with knowledge and skills beyond their academic certificates, noting that many challenges require more than medical intervention. She also emphasised the importance of active listening in counselling practice.
She added that the counselling profession offered limitless opportunities, encouraging the inductees to explore its potential to achieve their aspirations while making a difference in people’s lives.
Also speaking, the National President of APROCON, Prof. Patricia O. Osorochi, who was represented by Prof. Mary G. Fajonyomi, congratulated the newly inducted counsellors, describing them as Generation Z counsellors prepared to address the challenges confronting their contemporaries.
She encouraged them to embrace modern technology and digital platforms, including TikTok and LinkedIn, to connect with clients and expand their professional reach. She also urged them to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to enhance their practice.
Prof. Osorochi further advised the inductees to collaborate with senior colleagues to benefit from their wealth of professional experience and expertise.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of APROCON, Kwara State Chapter, Dr Usman Jimoh AbdulKareem, described counselling as more than a job, saying it is a calling that requires dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.
He observed that the country was facing increasing social and psychological challenges, including depression, drug abuse, career confusion, broken homes and mental health concerns.
“With these challenges, counsellors have become first responders for the soul,” AbdulKareem said.
He reminded the inductees of their responsibility to heal, guide and restore individuals facing various challenges, assuring them that the association would continue to provide guidance and support throughout their professional journey.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. O. L. Olaitan, represented by the Sub-Dean, Dr L.O Adegboyega, urged the newly inducted counsellors to inspire lives and embrace the responsibilities that came with their qualifications.
He stressed that their certificates represented more than academic achievements, describing them as a call to service.
Prof. Olaitan also emphasised the importance of professionalism and confidentiality in dealing with clients and encouraged the inductees to represent the University positively wherever they found themselves.
In his remarks, the Head of the Department of Educational Guidance and Counselling, University of Ilorin, Dr S. K. Ajiboye, described the induction as not only a personal achievement for the graduands but also an opportunity to contribute to national development.
He advised the new counsellors never to stop learning and encouraged them to engage in further research to improve their professional competence and contribute to the advancement of society.
Dr Ajiboye urged the inductees to make meaningful impacts and transform lives in schools, homes and their communities.
