ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Nigeria's poor social development record in the face of vast human and natural resources. It proposes that the persistent paradox of poverty amid plenty, despite successive development policies and national development plans, was due to a range of factors, including violent conflict and institutional failures, especially poor leadership and governance, corruption, an incompetent civil service, shortage of services and resources, and a lack of political will. Though the changes required to correct these problems lay far beyond social workers’ purview, the authors’ attest the profession's responsibility to contribute to social development through relational interventions at all levels, including engagement in community development initiatives to enhance people's educational and employment opportunities.
