KEY POINTS
- The Ibadan chapter of Global Veterans has urged all levels of government to establish dedicated budgetary provisions, monthly stipends, and subsidized welfare centers for senior citizens.
- Speaking at an event commemorating the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, convener Victor Oluwadamilare highlighted economic hardship and loneliness as severe threats to retirees.
- Stakeholders emphasized that active family care, improved healthcare access, and structural policy reviews are vital to dignifying aging in Nigeria.
MAIN STORY
All tiers of government have been urged to introduce robust budgetary frameworks, monthly stipends, and targeted palliatives for Nigerians aged 60 and above.
The call was made by Victor Oluwadamilare, convener of the Global Veterans (Ibadan Chapter), during an event in Ibadan marking the United Nations International Day of Older Persons. Held under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” the gathering brought together veteran journalists, activists, and academics to examine the welfare of senior citizens.
Oluwadamilare stated that aging in Nigeria has grown increasingly burdensome due to severe economic hardship, escalating living costs, and inadequate institutional support systems. He noted that many retired citizens who served the country meritoriously struggle to afford basic necessities, including essential medication. Beyond economic strains, he pointed out that mass emigration by younger generations leaves many elderly individuals facing emotional isolation and mental exhaustion.
Advocating practical solutions, Oluwadamilare called for the establishment of specialized distribution centers offering subsidized drugs, food items, and household essentials for senior citizens. He also encouraged medical researchers to accelerate treatments for age-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and stroke, while advising the elderly to maintain active social connections to protect their emotional well-being.
The event’s chairman, Prince Ade Adekanmbi, stressed that society must transition from viewing older individuals merely as dependents to recognizing them as active partners in national development. He noted that systems concerning housing, transportation, pensions, and digital inclusion require urgent reform, while emphasizing that families must retain their primary role in caregiving rather than completely outsourcing responsibilities to the government.
Delivering a lecture on behalf of Ajayi Crowther University scholar Prof. Muyiwa Popoola, Dr. Samson Owolabi advised elderly citizens to prioritize personal happiness over strenuous efforts to satisfy younger relatives at the expense of their own health. Meanwhile, activist and keynote speaker Comrade Mashood Erubami urged the federal government to overhaul health policies to eliminate administrative bottlenecks for veterans and establish a dedicated senior citizens advisory council.
THE ISSUES
- Inadequate pension administration and a lack of social safety nets leave aging citizens vulnerable to severe poverty and untreated health conditions.
- Family fragmentation driven by youth migration strains traditional support structures, increasing the risk of emotional isolation among the elderly.
WHAT’S BEING SAID
“Growing old in Nigeria is becoming increasingly difficult due to economic hardship, rising cost of living, loneliness and lack of adequate support systems. Many elderly persons who served the country meritoriously now struggle to afford basic needs, including medication.” – Victor Oluwadamilare, Convener, Global Veterans (Ibadan Chapter)
“Government and society must therefore continue to examine the systems that affect older citizens, particularly healthcare, pensions, social protection, housing, transportation, digital inclusion and access to essential services.” – Prince Ade Adekanmbi, Event Chairman
“We must not outsource the care of our elderly entirely to government. The family remains the first institution of care. Our children must be taught to respect, listen to and care for their parents and grandparents.” – Prince Ade Adekanmbi, Event Chairman
WHAT’S NEXT
Advocacy groups plan to press federal and state legislators to consider incorporating senior citizen welfare provisions, including subsidized healthcare access and regular stipends, into upcoming budget cycles.
BOTTOM LINE
As reported by NAN, local veterans and civil society leaders are demanding immediate systemic reforms and financial safety nets from the government to alleviate poverty and isolation among Nigeria’s aging population.
