NSCC unveils 10-year strategic roadmap on aging persons in Abuja

By Albert Akota

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has unveiled strategic roadmap on aging persons as well as an inclusive vision that will addresses demographic change affecting older persons in Nigeria.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, who unveiled the 2022-2032 project yesterday in Abuja and national plan of action on aging in Nigeria and project activities 2021-2025, urged state governments and FCT to do same to ensure the protection and safety of older persons across the country.

The Minister who was represented by Alhaji Musa Munguno, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, revealed that NSCC has developed short-term ways of achieving their goals through the operational plans detailing the programmes and activities that will be achieved in fiscal year.

According to him, document will support the National Senior Citizen Center to achieve the desired coordination, collaboration, cooperation and communication in mainstreaming issues affecting the older persons in Nigeria in all the critical Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, who was represented by the director Human Resources Management, Tokunbo Rufai implored the stakeholders to expand it activities by engaging the states government for further collaboration in improving information and analysis of aging population.

He add that, it necessary to formulate goals and programmes for public enlightenment and support in required policy of older persons in our communities.

In her keynote address, The Director General of NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokaro, said that population trend show speedy increase in the population of older persons in spite of Nigeria s youthful population structure which currently more than 14.8 million persons for 60 years and above in Nigeria.

She further said that it not by surprise, nor an emergency the predictability provides ample opportunity for the nation to project the population of aging by developing and enhance appropriate mechanism and system to contain the challenges.

Sokoto State Governorship candidate, Mallam Saidu Umar holding the flag of PDP presented to him by the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, during the PDP Presidential Campaign held at Giginya Memorial Stadium Sokoto, yesterday.