…says Nigeria ready to address challenges facing older persons
By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
As Nigeria for the 2021 commemorates the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro has said that with the Presidential accentment to the Senior Citizens Bill the Federal Government is now ready to address the challenges facing the older persons population.
Omokaro who is the first DG of the newly established National Senior Citizens Centre said, ” This year’s commemoration is very special since after many years of indifference Nigeria’s senior citizens now have a focal centre saddled with the responsibility of enhancing the responsibility of their welfare.
She noted that after the inauguration of the NSCC by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq , Nigeria can now optimally address the challenges facing it’s senior citizens.
She said that the WEAAD provides the opportunity for the global community to appreciate older persons adding that they continue to make contributions they continue to make to enhance the wellbeing of families, communities and the nation and also to call attention to their human rights.”
“It is a day set aside to create awareness and deepen understanding of the cultural , social, economic and demographic processes affecting older persons , to recognize and assess the stereotypes, prejudices , discrimination, neglect , violence and stigmatization they face within households, communities , private and public institutions where they expect to find trust.”
She emphasized that the 2021 WEAAD commemorated in Nigeria is a historic and strategic national developmental initiatives by President Muhammadu Buhari integrates older persons into development.
The theme of the 2021 WEAAD, ” Access to Justice” affirms that the entire world voices it’s opposition to any form of abuse of older persons by assessing national plans of action and how to address systematic drivers of older person’s vulnerability their susceptibility to abuse and their ability to obtain remedies through formal or informal institutions of Justice for grievances in compliance within human rights standards, she said.
She commended President Buhari for laying the necessary legislative and policy foundations for programmes and services that will effectively facilitate older persons right to health care , income security , long-life learning opportunities, engagement of capacities, enjoyment of freedom and happiness on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity, which are the core of humanity.
Meanwhile, the UN International Plan of Action has identified the alarming and increasing incidence of older persons abuse at all levels and in all forms , as public health crises with 4 out of 6 older persons are abused.
Daybreak reports that the WEAAD is commemorated every year on June 15th. It was launched in year 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization (WHO) and ratified by the United Nations’ General Assembly under its Resolution 66/127 of 2011.
