Discrimination Against Older Persons Unacceptable, FG Tells Nigerians

The Federal Government has cautioned against stigmatising and discriminating against senior citizens and the ageing population in Nigeria the pioneer 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 today the FG emphasised that it was important to address the growing perception, especially by the younger generation, that ageing parents are a ‘distraction and burden’ to the larger society.

Her statement was also a reaction to reports 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.

But Omokaro insisted that ageing should be seen as a beautiful thing to cherish and not to despise she said, 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.

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Michael Odetunde

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Odetunde Michael Sunday is a Journalist of his generation. He combines the talent and ability of Print, Online and Broadcast Journalist in a rare manner.

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