JUSTICE FOR OLDER PERSONS: NSCC Calls for inclusive collaboration to ensure a stable structure
Oru Leonard
As part of activities to mark the World Elders Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, has urged stakeholders and persons in different segments of the aging population to be involved in structures that will ensure justice for older persons in the country.
Dr Emem stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during a stakeholders engagement themed,” `Elder Justice’, which was organised by the Centre in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission and the Legal Aid Council.
Buttressing on collective action towards ensuring justice for elderly persons, She said,”Our response here is how do we bring justice to the elderly people, and my keynote address is going to be on partnerships on elder justice, as well as promoting those enabling structures that guarantee justice to the elderly through collective action.
”It also means putting all structures available, the enabling environment that ensures elder justice in terms of their security, healthcare and other basic needs.
”We are now building a support network that guarantees elder justice, where we can have a national network support for elder justice.”
Dr Omokaro appluaded the National Agency for Prohibition Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), focal person in over 40 MDA and Non Governmental Organisations for constant support and commitment.
She said the essence of inaugurating the Elder Justice Club in schools starting with Al-Amin International School, Abuja was to initiate students to champion the advocacy against elders’ abuse, promote elder justice and prepare them on ageing-related issues.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu, who was represented by Mrs Fidelia Oroh, Deputy Director, Vulnerable Group Department said there is no better time to stop the ugly trend than now as it has become pertinent that the nation address the issue in order to save the elderlies, especially elderly women.
Dr Samson Ezeikeanyi from United Nations Population Fund called on stakeholders to step up action Elder Justice awareness.
Goodwill messages and words of encouragement were delivered by MDAs and NGOs including the Roman Catholic Church who committed to ensuring justice for the elderly in Nigeria.
Highlight of the event was the emergence of a student of Al-Amin International School, Abuja, Rahma Waziri, as winner of the 2023 Elders Abuse Challenge debate held during the occasion.
About WEAAD
The World Elders Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD, is in support of the UN International Plan of Action that acknowledges the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue, and serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organisations and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
