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Social workers, especially in the Global North/developed countries such as the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, have been actively involved in implementing social programs to improve the psychosocial, health, and wellbeing of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is not the case in the Global South/developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana, etc. This concept paper aims to describe the current state of Nigerian social workers' role in developing and implementing social programs for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify action plans for further strengthening their involvement. We systematically reviewed the literature to identify Nigerian social workers' role in developing and implementing social programs for older adults during COVID-19. Our review reflected that social workers are rarely involved in developing and implementing social programs; when involved, their involvement is on a consultation basis, which limits their active involvement in multidisciplinary team of COVID-19 prevention and vaccination ad hoc committees in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Boko Haram insurgency is a significant problem in Nigeria, leading to the loss of lives and properties and the displacement of hundreds of people. This study explored the internally displaced persons (IDPs) adjustment experiences and the predictors (socioeconomic factors and religiosity scale) of social support for adjustment to displacement in Northeast Nigeria. A mixed-method approach guided this study. One hundred and eighty participants completed a survey on religiosity and perceived social support, of which 15 were qualitatively interviewed. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using multiple regression and thematic analysis. Older (B = 0.407), male (B= −1.203), married participants (B = −1.890), being Muslim (B = 0.136), having high (secondary and tertiary) education level (B = 0.423), and income (B = 0.019), were significantly associated with receiving social support for adjustment to displacement. Across the four dimensions of the religiosity scale, only preoccupation (B = 0.49) was significantly associated with social support among IDPs. Six themes emerged from the experience of IDPs regarding social support, and they include: adapting in camps and not adjusting is the ideal concept; men adapt faster than women; younger capers adapt faster than older campers; concern for their children’s education fosters adaptation; family/friends were emotionally/financially supportive and limited government support. Some of these predictors are modifiable, such as religious preoccupation, social support, income, and education; therefore, strategies to leverage these modifiable predictors in reducing the impact of displacement on individual’s health and wellbeing are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]