NSCC, Ovoteri Ltd Signs MoU To Build Recreational Centres for Senior Citizens Across Nigeria

Maryam Aminu

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), seeks Private Sector support to build, furnish and facilitate the administering of Active Senior Center Projects across Nigeria designed to foster a sense of connection and community for senior citizens through activities including health, recreation, intergenerational cross learning, art, crafts and leisure, sports, livelihood and social assistance programs, photography, storytelling, Community volunteering and whatever they value to stay happy and healthy.

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), and Ovoteri have signed a memorandum of understanding on one community one senior centre project.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding held Monday 8th April, 2023 in Abuja, the Director General of National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro said the idea of collaboration with Ovoteri Limited of establishing at least one senior centre per community is to continue engaging older persons and give them a sense of belonging.

She said, public, private partnerships is critical to the realization of this ambitious project.

She explained that NSCC is responsible for providing assistance and support to senior citizens in the country as part of the government’s commitment to improve the welfare of its elderly citizens

Dr. Omokaro reiterated that the National Senior Citizens Centre is out to create a world where senior citizens enjoy a happy retirement in good health.

“One community one senior centre will provide a platform for older persons to share experiences, exchange ideas, have fun etc” she said

The Director General said, the centre would provide a unique opportunity for both the young and older persons to exchange ideas and provide counselling services to the youths.

“older people still have their expertise, their experiences, their skills, their passions and they are right holders and they have every right to continue to engage and participate in the things they love and have value for.” She added

”What is good about this project, yes is focused on older persons but is truly intergenerational.

”Because, we design the programme in such a way that our youths will have life coaches as mentors and the Senior Citizens are going to have tutors for ICT, so is going to be an impactful initiatives.

” We are going to have upskilling of our artisans and theatres so that whatever our older persons want to do to promote their healthy living it can take care of that” she said.

Dr. Omokaro explained that the NSCC engage members of the National Assembly, the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria to support the implementation of the project.

”Due to paucity of funds we are engaging stakeholders from both public and private sectors especially members of the National Assembly to see a way of including these senior centres in their various constituency projects.

”Because, senior citizens that need this facility are spread across 774 local government areas in the country” she said.

The NSCC Boss commended Ovoteri ltd for the commitment to be a critical partner in bettering the lives of senior citizens.

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer Ovoteri Nigeria Limited Dr Ovwe Sowho, appreciated NSCC for its contribution to the welfare of older persons

Sowho expressed readiness to support all efforts towards achieving the NSCC’s target of one community one Senior Centre Project.

She expressed confidence in the ability of NSCC’s executives to ensure the realization of this ambitious project.

”For us as private sector we would mobilise other partners to invest in this project as part of our corporate social responsibility”