The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has kicked against all barriers limiting older persons’ access to health and social care, social safety net, life-long learning opportunities as well as enabling and supportive environments.
The Director-General of the centre, Dr Emem Omokaro, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Monday to commemorate the 2024 celebration of International Day of Older Persons.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for 2024 International Day of Older Persons is “Celebrating older persons and the integral role they play in community”.
Omokaro said that NSCC expanded the theme and its expressions to “Celebrating older persons, and the integral role they play in community: Recognising people and places that remove the barriers”.
She highlighted the true values and contributions of older persons in society, stating that they were needed for independence participation, inclusion and continuing contributions to community and country.
The D-G disclosed that the centre would be celebrating the International Day with five days of activities from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5.
Omokaro said that the centre would recognise and honour those committed to removing societal biases and barriers before the older persons with NSCC humanitarian service and elder justice advocacy awards.
She highlighted systemic discrimination against older persons and mobilising network support for its transformational initiatives to improve quality of life of older persons.
“The older population in Nigeria, numbering about 14.8 million, with 70 per cent in the rural area, is heterogeneous; from the actively working or opportunity seeking older persons with skills, expertise, institutional memory and administrative experience in diverse fields as retired professionals.
“With the NSCC age-friendly, human rights and life course lenses, policy actions that are non-prejudicial, non-discriminatory and devoid of negative stereotyping is moving forward, President Bola Tinubu is committed to heralding an inclusive Nigeria with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The objectives of 2024 national day is to celebrate senior citizens and their past and continuing contributions to communities and country.
” To recognise and award people and services that have recognised the value and significance of older persons and responded with heart and respect to ensure inclusion and participation for improved quality of life,” she said. (NAN)
