The Federal Government (FG) has cautioned against stigmatising and discriminating against senior citizens in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The pioneering Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro, gave the warning in her keynote address at the Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards 2024 held in Abuja on Wednesday.
She noted that it is important to address the growing perception, especially by the younger generation, that ageing parents are a ‘distraction and burden’ to the larger society.
She stated this while reacting to the report that the ageing population is not covered by the health insurance scheme, just as some banks in Nigeria have it as a policy not to grant loan facilities above certain amounts to people who are advanced in age.
She, however, insisted that ageing should be seen as a beautiful thing to cherish and not to despise.
She stated, “Ageing is what everybody prays for. It calls for celebration. However, there is a very pessimistic attitude about older persons. They are seen as a distraction. This is because there is a wrong perception that the ageing population has nothing to give back. So when opportunities occur in humanitarian delivery efforts, maybe due to limitations in funding, the issue becomes which demography should be considered.
“Of course, once that question is brought up, older persons may be overlooked. Many believe it is a waste because they have nothing to contribute. We are working to change that narrative. The population of older persons is as diverse as you can imagine. On the one hand, you have older persons who are full of vigour and able to live independently with autonomy. They are still heads of their families and have continued to invest in their communities.
“On the other side, you have older persons who are extremely poor, vulnerable, and cannot help themselves at all. They depend on others for their hygiene, movement, and feeding. In the NSCC, we have had cause to carry out our needs assessment and found older artisans, farmers, and weavers who still contribute to the intricacy of their artistry and are producing the most beautiful things you can imagine. All they need is an opportunity.”
