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THE National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) on Tuesday donated some relief materials to Old People’s Home in Gwagwalada and Kado Estate in the Federal Capital Territory, to mark the National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NSCC, Dr Emem Omokaro, represented by the Head of Department, Stakeholders Engagement and Community Relations, Mrs Olive Onono, said the gesture was to celebrate the National Day for older persons.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the relief items include bag of rice, toiletries, bottle water, detergents and others.
“As you know, Oct.1 is our Independence Day and also International Day for the Elderly, but President Muhammadu Buhari in his good mind, designated Oct. 5 as our own National Day of Older Persons.
“We started our programmes on Oct. 1 with a Radio Programme. Today we have visited Old People’s Home in Gwagwalada, spent time with them, and are now here in Amazing Grace Foundation’s Old People’s Home.
“We tagged it ‘A Day Out With Older Persons’, so we brought palliatives that would address some of their challenges.
“We also have some form of partnership with NIMC, Primary Health Care and others to care for Older Persons.
“We have some programmes like indigenous led craft that showcase talents by older persons in every state of the federation. They will identify three craft and we support them,” Omokaro said.
Also, Founder of the Amazing Grace Foundation, Dr Mary Ifeayinwa Obegolu, expressed joy at the visit by officials of the NSCC.
“It shows that they are now coming down to interact with the people who are directly affected by their rules and regulations or by the work they are doing. So I am happy.
“We should have a health and welfare scheme for the aged to take care of them, especially the poor and vulnerable older persons.
“There should be a programme for them to enable them to be integrated into the society; and for us who are handling them, NSCC should partner with us to give the 1,860 of them in our care,” Obegolu said.
NAN also reports that activities to mark the National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria will continue with a Slow Carnival and Road Walk on Wednesday to create awareness.
There would also be a Resilience to Empowerment Conference on Friday when there would be Grey and Vintage Fair, an Exhibition of Arts and Crafts of Older Persons to the economy. (NAN)
Tags: National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC)
