UN and Dave Omokaro Foundation Celebrate International Day of Older Persons
Oru Leonard
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, and the Dave Omokaro Foundation (DOF) recently organized a special UN-DOF RoundTable Discussion on the 2025 International Day of Older Persons. The event, held at the UN House, focused on the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights”.
The discussion brought together senior citizens, media professionals, traditional council representatives, and community members from two FCT Area Councils. The older persons shared their lived experiences, aspirations, and expertise, highlighting their capacity to drive action and contribute to their communities. They emphasized the importance of equity and inclusion of older persons in development agendas and the full enjoyment of their rights.
The National Senior Citizens Goodwill Ambassadors for Age-friendly Services and Elder Justice Advocacy led by the National Coordinator, Olorogun Dr. Peter Igho of the #CocrowAtDawn fame led the team of famed media, theater, and entertainment veterans who participated along side the traditional council’s reps and community members from two FCT Area Councils led by Etsu of Pasil and District Head of Agwai.
At the RoundTable moderated by the C.E.O. of Dave Omokaro Foundation, Dr Emem Omokaro, the older persons shared their live experiences, their after 60 aspirations, identifying their expertise, skills,strengths and capacities to network and to leverage opportunities presented by the partnetships with UN office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria and the Dave Omokaro Foundation to call for equity and inclusion of older persons in development agenda and for the full enjoyment of their rights.
The questions I was opportuned to ask the experienced panellists who dripped with history and wisdom elicited answers that sounded scripted like documentaries. The exchanges filled the room with the essence of the theme; the ability and capacity inherent in the senior citizens to drive action spotlighting the transformative role they play.
Each shared their efforts since retirement within their underserved communities to bring hope ,minimize marginalization in the areas of sensitization and civic knowledge translation through documentary, sharing knowledge of avaialabe support services,creating access to health care,- all exemplifying their community – based efforts in driving actions at various levels to improve quality of life and wellbeing of their population cohort.
The program featured
i). Keynote Statement from the UN Resident
and Humanitarian Coordinator- reflecting on the UN Secretary General’s statement.
2. Open moderated dialogue with older persons sharing their aspirations, what they consider opportunities and barriers to older persons driving local and global action to end systemic age-discrimination and to promote continuing engagement in what they value.
