1ST PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT ON AGEING: NIgeria Reiterates Commitment to Cater for Senior Citizens …..Declares October 5 as National Senior Citizens’ Day.

Oru Leonard

The Federal Government of NIgeria has reiterated her commitment to cater for Senior Citizens in the country.

FGN stated this on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the 1st Presidential Summit on Ageing and Awards in Abuja with the theme, “Building Inter-Governmental Synergies for Inclusive, Cohesive and Sustainable Communities”.

FGN also has declared has declared October 5 every year as National Senior Citizens’ Day, as a mark of honour to celebrate the country’s older citizens.

The ageing population which are qualified to be called Senior citizens have not only been neglected in Nigeria, but have also been abused in many communities and are made to die in silence or termed witch or wizard in some communities, thereby leaving the ageing ones vulnerable and miserable to death.

The agony suffered by the aged ones in the society has prompted the federal government of Nigeria to establish the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC),  which was set up by the National Senior Citizens’ Centre Act 2017 to cater for the needs of senior citizens.

The NSCC is mandated to identify the needs of senior citizens and opportunities, initiate, develop, facilitate and implement training, health, economic, social and recreational programs and services, aimed at enhancing the dignity, security, well-being and capacities of senior citizens to continue to participate in what they value.

It’s on this note that the Federal Government through the office of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the NSCC headed by the Director General, Dr Emem Omokaro, held the 1st Presidential Summit on Ageing and Award.

President Buhari who was represented at the Summit by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, also stated that the ageing population in Nigeria constitute 4.7 percent of Nigerian population which is approximately about nine million senior citizens who have given their best to Nation building and have served as bridge that connects us to our founding fathers, noting that they are the most neglected age group in our society today.

He said, “In bringing about a paradigm shift in this regard, the present administration signed into law the NSCC Act 2017 to cater for the senior citizens and also approved the National Policy on Ageing in 2020 to address special needs and harness opportunities in the increasing number of older persons in Nigeria.

“I, therefore, encourage every tier of government, traditional and religious institutions, private sector and all Nigerians to be partners in supporting the NSCC in catering for the ageing and older persons in the nation”, he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq while noting that the Summit was in recognition of Senior Citizens in Nigeria, as “ageing is a natural process that everyone must undergo in life”, added that it was gratifying to know that the President had taken the front row as one of the few in Africa to establish entity and institutional capacity to address issues regarding ageing and older persons.

Speaking, the Chairman, NSCC Governing Board, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed in his remark, stated that in the last few months, the NSCC has established a National Working Committee to develop a 10 year strategic plan to assist the senior citizens as ageing is frequently associated with health challenges.

He noted that the NSCC needs multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach in tackling the issues of ageing affecting older persons, pointing out that they have engaged in strategic partnership with specific ministries, department, agencies, state and private organizations to address the needs of the older persons.

In her welcome remarks, the Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Emem Omokaro Ph.D who stated that the Presidential Summit is historic, said the objectives of the Summit is to celebrate senior citizens, recognize, and acknowledge older persons as positive force for development; and to announce a comprehensive vision of human rights of older person’s, which commands universal access to programs and services, including digital technology eco-system.

She also said that the Summit will provide a national platform to bring global recognition, to the unprecedented political will and historic establishment of policy, legal and institutional capacity to mainstream ageing in Nigeria, by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, with committed facilitation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

High points of the event was the conferment of Distinct Award on President Buhari. Awards were also given to eight other senior citizens which include; Elder Nathaniel Okoro, Prof. Julius Okojie, Dr Halima Yalwa Adamu and Salome Yuyu Sambo, Mahamuda Abubakar, Chief Richard Idowu, Alhaji Haliru Bunza and Hajiya Saudatu Bungudu.

Photo Credit of PMB: Thisday live