By correspondent in Minna.
One day the Senior Citizens Healthy Ageing Promotions and Walk for Life came up in Minna, the capital of Niger State, on Tuesday with a strong call on families, communities, and governments to align with global best practices in their treatment and care of elderly citizens.
Participants and speakers at the one-day event emphasized the need to improve awareness and change attitudes toward the elderly, many of whom face various forms of abuse—physical, emotional, and psychological,often stemming from ignorance about age-related conditions such as dementia.
Eighty-three-year-old retiree, Alhassan Wasagi, who spoke during the event, recounted how elderly Nigerians are frequently misunderstood, mistreated, or even accused of witchcraft due to natural symptoms of aging.
He stressed that increased awareness and policy interventions could help correct such harmful misconceptions.
“Some of our children use abusive words on us, some shout at us, forgetting we are their parents.
“This happens because they don’t understand that old age changes the way we think and act. There’s a disconnect that must be bridged,”Wasagi lamented.
Wasagi, who retired from the civil service in 1993, called for stronger ties between the elderly and the younger generation, noting that many senior citizens have been abandoned by their children who lack the skills or patience to care for them properly.
Also Speaking at the event, Dr. Nuhu Mohammed of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) noted that the establishment of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in 2017 provides a legal framework mandating the recognition and welfare of senior citizens.
According to him, “The elderly spent their prime years working and raising their families. Now that they can no longer do so ,due to age, they deserve dignity, rights, and care from society.”
Our correspondent reports that the event, organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), NHRC, and Zimtopia Foundation, aimed to advocate for the wellbeing of older persons and raise awareness on issues affecting their quality of life.
Also in attendance were stakeholders,including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Nuhu Ngaski, Hajiya Asmau Abubakar Mohammed, and Hajiya Jummai Gimba, who presented papers on improving the lives of senior citizens, rehabilitation programs, and daily care strategies.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
