Stakeholders Calls For Establishment of Recreational/ Vocational Centre For Older Persons

Maryam Aminu

The National Senior Citizens Centre NSCC with mandate to identify the needs of senior citizens and to cater for them is setting the standard for the future of senior centers by promoting cutting-edge research, promising practices, professional development, and advocacy.
NSCC with stakeholders in the humanitarian sector have called for the establishment of recreational/ vocational centres to provide functional, secured and socially active community space for the physical, social, intellectual and emotion wellbeing of Nigeria’s senior citizens

They made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the NSCC’s 2023 Service Fair with the theme: “Equity by Design: Delivery Multi-sectoral inclusion for Older Persons”

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, said her Ministry will continue to provide support to better the life of older persons

Edu said the NSCC fair is an innovative effort by the Centre to promote the needed awareness and understanding of its mandate, it’s strategic approach to delivering outcomes for the different target sub- population of older persons with peculiar challenges and to exploit the economic growth opportunities they present.

The Minister expressed optimism that the fair will promote positive attitudes about ageing, older persons and encourage increasing policy shift towards equity and more inclusion of older people in all sector programs

She added that the NSCC maiden fair with the quality of multi-sector programs and services on display makes a business case for Nigeria to embrace the emerging geriatric market with all its opportunities to create jobs and community prosperity, while restoring dignity of Nigeria’s senior citizens

In her remarks, the Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro, said in line with NSCC mission to engage strategic multi- sectoral partnerships to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of older persons, the Centre is working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the establishment of the creational/ vocational centre

Omokaro expressed that the creation of the centre would help to impact in depth knowledge from their wealth of experience to the youth as well as be a source of relaxation and networking with their peers.

Reiterating commitment,she said NSCC would mainstream it’s intervention programmes to improve the quality of lives and welfare of older persons across states and local areas.

The DG restated the need to support efforts towards addressing problems associated with the older persons
” We understand that ageism and stereotypes diminishes the value of older persons’ contributions to the society. This results in policies and practices that do not adequately utilise their skills, knowledge and experience

Speaking on private sector partnership commitment, a development partner from Industrial Development Communication Ltd working with the Senior Citizens Centre to mobilize resources towards the attainment of the centre, Dr Ovwe Sowho said the idea of the creation of the centre was to bring the senior citizens together to network, relax as well as mentor younger generation

Sowho disclosed that the target is to establish at least one senior citizens center per community

She affirmed that as a development partner, she will be out to engage private sectors locally and internationally to build the centres

At the 2023 Services Fair, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu unveiled and launched the Older Persons Indigenous Crafts and Skills Empowerment Programme for Sustainable Community Development