Narrative Approach (NA) and the Sociocultural Embeddedness of Social Work Practice in Nigeria

The paper depending mainly on systematic review of extant literature and a case study examines the utility andrelevance of the narrative approach to social work practice in Nigeria. It focused especially on how the approachfacilitates the acceptance of the discipline as well as embodies consistency with extant sociocultural contexts.Even though the narrative approach is a novelty in the social work practice and intervention repertoire inNigeria, it seems congruent with social cultural norms of storytelling and sharing of burdens through oralnarratives. The paper pinpoints the probable challenges that would confront the utilization of the approach. Itequally identifies opportunities ranging from the deepening of the scope of the discipline, empoweringcreativity, and initiatives of social workers, enabling bonding to improving the acceptability of the disciplineamong the people. It therefore advocates for the utilization of the narrative approach since the approach whilenot jettisoning formal theories and models provides opportunity for creativity and initiative-based practice thataligns with the sociocultural contexts shared by both the practitioner and the client.