Emmanuel Daudu
The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a comprehensive and inclusive national policy framework aimed at improving the welfare and protection of older persons and vulnerable Nigerians.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Sununu, disclosed this in Abuja during a Road Walk, Sensitization and Advocacy Programme organized by the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN).
Dr. Sununu said the initiative underscores the government’s growing commitment to ensuring that senior citizens live in dignity and are not left behind in the nation’s development agenda.
“We are determined to build a society that values its elderly population and provides them with the care, inclusion, and respect they deserve,” he said.
President of COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku, commended participants and stakeholders for their consistent support in advancing the welfare of older persons. He renewed calls for the speedy passage of the Older Persons Rights and Privileges Bill, currently before the National Assembly, noting that it would provide a stronger legal framework to safeguard the rights of senior citizens.
Representing the Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Hon. Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, the Centre’s Special Adviser on Policy and Strategic Leadership, Dr. Tijani Ahmed Ajayi, reaffirmed NSCC’s commitment to working closely with COSROPIN and other advocacy groups to enhance the well-being of the elderly.
Hon. Akinyemi-Obe also urged state governments to domesticate the National Senior Citizens Act to ensure that older persons across the country benefit fully from its provisions.
The event marked the culmination of activities for the 2025 United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) a global celebration that recognizes the contributions of older people and highlights issues affecting their welfare, rights, and inclusion in society.
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