COSROPIN Seeks Review Of National Policy On Ageing

The Coalition of Societies for the Rights Of Older Persons In Nigeria, COSROPIN, has congratulated Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi – Obe on her appointment as the new Director General, National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC.

In a congratulatory visit to her at the NSCC Headquarters in Abuja, the President of COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku, described the appointment of Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi – Obe as the new Director General as a welcomed development.

Senator Eze Ajoku said COSROPIN had desired over the years to be a progressive partner to the Center pointing out that the last administration of NSCC refused to work with COSROPIN.

According to him, the appointment means a lot to COSROPIN because the Coalition, weighed the responsibility, and is aware that having the right leadership can make all the difference.

“Your Centre, the NSCC, is a beacon of that vision and we believe that with your leadership, and with collaboration from stakeholders like us, we can build a Nigeria where senior citizens are seen, heard, engaged, and cared for; not just in policy, but in practice”.

Senator Eze Ajoku appealed to the new Director General to review and implement the National Policy on Ageing to enable Government recognize the strategic partnership involving all stakeholders at all levels in its implementation.

“From our viewpoint, the National Policy on Ageing implementation has been distorted in its current implementation and largely discarded thereby hindering effective and speedy dissemination of information and services to the older persons in the country ” the President of COSROPIN added.

Responding, the Director General of National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC, Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi – Obe said there are over ten million older persons in the country out of which about four million are vulnerable hence the need to cater for their needs.

She promised to embark on practical outreaches to rural areas to touch the lives of older people instead of organising seminars and conferences that may not have any effect on them and equally work with the Ministry of Health and other organs of Government such as SMEDAN to improve the quality of life and engagement of older persons.

The Director General who stated that the Centre would work with COSROPIN to reach all the Governors so that their States could key into the welfare and wellbeing of older persons expressed the readiness of NSCC to set up committees with COSROPIN to plan and execute programs that will affect the lives of older persons.

While commending COSROPIN for its activities in the care of older persons so far, she said that the organisation and the Centre are now viable partners.

The Director General advised all to forget the past and look forward to a renewed hope for older persons’ care and protection .

On the COSROPIN Older Persons Bill awaiting the Public Hearing in the National Assembly, the Director General stated that the Centre will give every support to ensure the passage of the Bill.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji