In line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of an inclusive society, the Anambra State Government, through its Ministry of Special Duties, in collaboration with the National Senior Citizens Centre’s National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Ageing (NNSCFOA), celebrated the National Day of Older Persons with a series of events in Awka. The activities included a health walk, medical outreach, and a novelty football match for the elderly at Awka City Stadium.
The National Day of Older Persons, established by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, is celebrated in Nigeria on October 5, as the international observance on October 1 coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day. The day highlights the challenges faced by the elderly, particularly in accessing quality healthcare and social support.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Celebrating the Value of Older Persons and the Integral Role They Play: Recognizing the Places and the People that Remove the Barriers,” the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, noted that this year’s celebration marks a historic step toward integrating public policies that support the welfare of the elderly in Anambra. She announced the establishment of the Anambra State Technical Team on Ageing, tasked with creating a policy framework to operationalize social care for the elderly.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, highlighted the Soludo administration’s commitment to uplifting vulnerable groups, including the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities, emphasizing that a society’s strength is measured by how it supports its weakest members.
Iyom Josephine Anenih, Chairman of the NNSCFOA and the Anambra State Technical Team on Ageing, decried the neglect of older persons and called for a sustainable plan of action to create a safer, more inclusive society for the elderly.
During a health talk, Ms. Nneoma Anoliefo, representing Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, Managing Director of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), emphasized the importance of exercise for the elderly and urged families to provide the necessary support for their loved ones to age with dignity.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Commissioner for Budgets and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake; Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba; and Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, among others.
Ten elderly participants were selected through a raffle draw and registered for free into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme (ASHIS), granting them subsidized healthcare services in any hospital of their choice across the state.
