President Muhammadu Buhari has announced every 5th Day of October as the National Day of Senior Citizens.
Buhari made this announcement at the 1st Presidential Summit on Ageing and Awards on Friday in Abuja.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who represented the President at the event noted that the yearly commemoration of National Citizens Day is a further demonstration of our support to the senior citizens and older persons in Nigeria.
“The 5th of October every year will be celebrated as National Day of Senior Citizens in Nigeria in line with the UN international day of older persons celebrated annually on the 1st of October”.
Meanwhile, Buhari explained that the aging population of Nigeria constitute 4.7% of Nigeria’s population which is over 9 million people whose age bracket is characterized by people who has given their best towards the development of our nation.
He lamented that this is one of the most neglected age group in our society today as the aging population which qualify to be called senior citizens are not just been neglected but abused and made to die in silence.
He however assured that the federal government is committed to releasing mechanism towards promoting, providing and ensuring access to varying social services of older persons.
“I therefore encourage every tier of government, traditional and religious institutions, private sector and indeed all Nigerians to be partners and support the National Senior Citizens Centre in catering for the aging and older persons in the nation”.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Umar Farouq alluded that without doubt, the older persons in Nigeria has been left behind for a very long time in which many of them has been abused and unjustly accused of witchcraft or abandoned by their families.
Umar opined that Nigeria is now currently on the right path in promoting the rights of older persons and ensuring healthy aging through the creation of the National Senior Citizens Centre.
The Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Emem Omokaro expressed delight at the Presidential Summit to honor the of past of the older citizens and recognize thier diversity as a positive force for development.
Emem noted that the bold outing and assemblage of older persons from rural communities and urban centre in their social economic diversity within this festive atmosphere is a testimony that the integration of older persons in development is no longer adhoc and can no longer be dismissible in Nigeria.