The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, has expressed gratitude with the Federal government for its designation of Oct. 5, as special day for the elderly.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had at the First Presidential Summit on Ageing on Dec. 17, announced the day in Abuja.
Buhari, represented at the event by Interio Minister Rauf Aregbesola, said that the day was a slight adjustment of same celebration by the UN on Oct. 1, every year, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence Day.
Dr Omokaro, on Sunday at the News Agency of Nigera Forum said president Buhari was sensitive to the plight of senior citizens and demonstrated it by not only creating the NSCC but also designating a day to celebrate them.
She said that the centre would step up action to commemorate the special day for older citizens, to give them the honour they deserved in society.
“There is a UN Day for older persons but for Nigeria it clashes with our National Day celebration, which is Oct.1.
“So whenever every other member state of the UN is celebrating, Nigeria is celebrating Independence Day and it obliterates the International Day of Older People for Nigeria.
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“It is very difficult organizing it now but there has to be a day — national citizen’s day — that day has come and it will be worth it,” said Omokaro.
NAN reports that the International Day of Older Persons was passed by the UN General Assembly on Dec. 14, 1990, designating Oct. 1, every year as International Day for Older Persons.
The day is used to celebrate senior citizens globally, marked with visits and spending time with elderly people and loved ones in nursing homes and elsewhere.
The theme for this year’s Old People’s Day was “Digital Equity for All Ages,” which affirmed the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons.
(NAN)
