Christmas: COSROPIN Felicitates With Older Persons

The President, Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons In Nigeria, COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku has felicitated with older persons on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration.

In his Christmas message inAbuja, Senator Ajoku said despite the current challenges in the country, older persons should still have reasons to celebrate with the hope of a better tomorrow.

Senator Ajoku who is also the International Coordinator of Graceful Ageing Fellowship, GRAF, admonished then to use the occasion in praying for a better and more prosperous Nigeria.

While advising older persons to eat right during and after the Christmas celebration, the President of COSROPIN also stressed the need for them to remember to carryout their daily exercise to stay healthy for continuous graceful ageing.

He used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to put in place more welfare packages especially a free health insurance scheme for older persons for longevity.

Senator Ajoku who called for laws to address gender based violence against older persons in Nigeria emphasized the need for two more African countries to ratify
the African Charter on the Rights of Older Persons to make it binding on African Governments .

“With the ratification of the charter this year by Nigeria, the country now becomes the 13th member-state in the African region to affirm its obligations and the Act when fully in place will strengthen the protection of the rights of older persons through a binding regional legal instrument” he stressed.

The President of COSROPIN explained that Nigeria would continue to play its part towards implementation of the UN Charter on the rights of older persons in Nigeria.

He said COSROPIN would not relent in its advocacy in collaboration with necessary stakeholders on ways of making life more comfortable for older persons in the country.

Senator Ajoku described old age as a blessing and advised older persons to always contribute their wealth of knowledge for national development.

Edited By Grace Namiji