Nigeria has joined the global community to commemorate the 35th United Nations International Day of Older Persons, with stakeholders urging greater protection and recognition of elderly rights.
At an event in Abuja, Executive Director of Emerald Elderly & Care Development Foundation, Becky Ogbonnaya Okoroafor, stressed that the world faces a major demographic shift, with over 900 million more older persons projected by 2050. She emphasized the theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-being and Our Rights,” as a call to see senior citizens not merely as beneficiaries but as active contributors to development.
Okoroafor highlighted the importance of intergenerational solidarity and collaboration among government, civil society, and development partners to change societal attitudes towards ageing. Participants at the event urged the integration of older persons into policy frameworks, while improving access to healthcare, social security, and platforms of expression.
The foundation also unveiled its flagship initiative, the ‘Grey Care Show’, described as a paradigm-shifting platform to strengthen the social and economic ecosystem for Nigeria’s elderly population.
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