By Mayen Etim, Kaduna
The National Senior Citizens’ Centre (NSCC), has commended the Kaduna State Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Ageing for their commitments towards the welfare of its aged citizens in the state.
Speaking at a one-day kick-off of the first Federal Government Healthy Ageing Promotions and Senior Citizens Walk for Life Activities, the Director General of NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokaro, said the event was aimed to informed, educate and enhance the functional capacities, and to build a healthy resilient older population.
The event, which was in partnership with the Uba Sani – Govt to People and People to Govt (G2P and P2G) Volunteers, held at the Murtala Square Kaduna on Tuesday, attracted a large turnout of senior citizens drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Nigeria Living Standard Survey in 2019 indicated a population of 14.8 million for older persons with a population growth rate of 2.8 per cent
The programme was also in partnership with the WHO, Int’l Women and Youth Revival Initiative (IWYRI), Nigerian Union of Pensioners, and Torchlight Foundation.
In her address, the DG added that the programme will sustainably create opportunities for collective learning, acting, and for attitudinal change about ageing and older persons’ continuing engagement in life style modification, and work schemes within communities.
Dr Omokaro, who was represented by the state Co-Chairman of NSCC, Hajiya Hauwa Yahaya, noted that one of the implications of a growing ageing population is the considerable and likely growing prevalence of None communicable diseases, which in most cases led to chronic conditions and functional impairment among older population.
She explained that in Nigeria, dis-aggregated data from the Nigeria Living Standard Survey in 2019 indicated a population of 14.8 million for older persons with a population growth rate of 2.8 per cent.
She remarked: “In spite of its young pyramid structured population, Nigeria by 2050 will be home to 29.8 million older persons.
In spite of its young pyramid structured population, Nigeria by 2050 will be home to 29.8 million older persons
“The localizing and implementation of NSCC’s healthy ageing and walk for life project activities, will presents opportunities for collaborations and actions among the state stakeholders consultative forum on ageing.”
The Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor on Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Abdul Isiaq, said the event was apt, because as a Federal Government initiative, it perfectly aligns with the Kaduna State Government’s policy on inclusion to compliment the state NSCC.
According to him, the state government has equally put in place a group known as “Senior Citizens and Elders of the State” who are contributing to the development of the state in all spheres of life.
He added that the state government has rolled out several social protection programmes in the state, and already has released the sum of N3.8 billion for payment of gratuity and death benefits to pensioners, with an ongoing verification exercise.
Senior Citizens and Elders of the State
Giving a brief of the programme, the state Vice Chairman of NSCC, Engr. Musa Idris, said the event is aimed to impact on the health of the senior citizens, hence, some physical exercises, their blood sugar level, BP and their general health are being tested and were given palliative.
A senior citizen at the event Abdulkarim Alhaji Umar, described it as a unique one and lauded the Kaduna State Government for initiating such a gathering, and called for more empowerment, and timely payment of Pensioners across the state.
