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RMAFC, NSCC Advocate Bold Reforms to Ensure Dignified Aging in Nigeria

Published

3 months ago

July 31, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aging and healthcare sector converged today at the Dr. M. B. Shehu Auditorium, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja, for the First Healthy Ageing Symposium, Exposition and Awards, to promote structured, inclusive, and dignified aging systems for senior citizens.

The symposium was organised by the Centre for African American Research Studies (CAARS) in partnership with DCL Africa and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). It brought together some policymakers, researchers, development partners, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to deliberate on the theme: “Ageing with Dignity and Working with Purpose.”

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu OFR, the Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka, welcomed participants and commended the organizers for the choice of theme, noting that it could not have come at a better time.

He described the programme as a life-changing initiative and stated that its collaboration with respected government and civil society organisations underscores the growing recognition of aging as a national priority. According to him, “The decision to organise this important life-changing programme with these very important institutions speaks to the acceptance your Centre enjoys and the value proposition attributed to your work.”

Highlighting the increasing financial burden of healthcare on ordinary Nigerians, the Chairman noted that the cost of accessing quality healthcare has gone far beyond the income of the average citizen, which according to him which has negatively affected life expectancy. He said, “This situation has plagued the state of health of most Nigerians and getting reliable information required to prevent sickness and ailments would mean a lot of savings to us all.”

While acknowledging federal interventions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, he emphasized the need for sustainable, grassroots-oriented programmes like this symposium. He added that the Commission’s decision to host the event demonstrates its commitment to a healthy and productive workforce.

In her keynote address, Dr. Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, Director General of the National Senior Citizens Center (NSCC)—represented by Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ajayi—urged policymakers to act urgently to address the growing institutional gaps affecting older citizens. “Too many older persons face poverty, isolation, neglect, and a profound loss of dignity, especially in rural areas. Dignified aging must not be precarious; it is not a privilege—it is a right.” He posited

He identified seven key pillars needed to build a responsive aging system in Nigeria: legal and policy frameworks, sustainable financing, community-based institutional infrastructure, geriatric workforce development, technology, and social inclusion. “Societies that honour their elders build stronger communities, healthier families, and more compassionate nations,” Dr.Tijani Ajayi said.

According to him, the NSCC is already implementing several initiatives including the Geriatric Social Care Community Extension Support Services, medical housing programs, and assistive device distribution, aimed at improving the quality of life for older persons. He also revealed that the agency was working with the National Assembly and the Institute of Justice to harmonize elder protection laws and develop a national ageing policy that is both inclusive and enforceable.

Dr. Ajayi also announced the launch of a digital literacy program where youth volunteers train elderly citizens in basic technology use and sanitation/environmental projects where older persons serve as ambassadors for healthy communities. “We must change the narrative, older people are not burdens—they are national assets.” He said.

The event featured several technical paper presentations by resource persons such as: Dr. Maimouna Diop Ly, a renowned physician and nutrition specialist who spoke on nutrition and longevity;

Dr. Mories Atoke, CEO of ABC Health, who made a presentation on healthcare innovations for aging populations and Dr. Hanem Abdelraouf, who delivered insights into gender approaches to elder care within African and Middle Eastern contexts.

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Imo Auto Parts Dealer Runs Abroad to Escape Bandit Attacks

Published

28 mins ago

November 3, 2025

The Gleamer

An automobile parts dealer, Mr Ifeanyi Kingsley Iwuagwu, has fled Nigeria to save his life after a series of deadly attacks by bandits on his community in Imo State.

Iwuagwu, who left the country in January this year, said he was forced to seek refuge abroad following repeated violent raids that claimed several lives and left properties in ruins.

The young entrepreneur, a native of the Okigwe axis of Imo State, recounted how relentless assaults by armed men transformed his once peaceful village into a war zone. “I had no choice but to leave,” he told AljazirahNigeria Newspapers. “It became a matter of life and death. Remaining there would have meant waiting for the next attack.”

As the only son of an aged mother who depends entirely on him for her welfare, Iwuagwu said leaving her behind was the most agonising decision he has ever made. His mother now lives in constant fear and uncertainty.

“It breaks my heart to be far from her,” he lamented. “But I had to leave to stay alive, with the hope of bringing her to safety one day.”

In recent years, many residents of rural communities in Imo State have faced escalating threats from bandits and criminal gangs, forcing some to abandon their homes and even seek refuge overseas.

For Iwuagwu, the decisive moment came on 20 November 2024, when his shop in Amiagbo, Nwangele Local Government Area, was looted and set ablaze. “That was the day I finally decided to follow the path of some of my colleagues who had already fled abroad,” he explained. “There is no safe place in Nigeria anymore. We keep hearing reports of kidnappings, banditry, herdsmen invasions, and terrorist attacks across all six geopolitical zones—no one knows where will be next.”

Security experts and community leaders have continued to urge the government to provide greater protection for defenceless communities and address the root causes of insecurity in the South East.

For Iwuagwu, survival remains his foremost concern. “All I want is peace and the chance to live without fear,” he said. “No one should have to abandon their home just to stay alive.”

The South-East geopolitical region of Nigeria has in recent years become a flashpoint of violence, with numerous deaths and widespread destruction of businesses and property. Many residents have fled their ancestral lands in search of both safety and livelihoods.

According to Amnesty International, approximately 1,844 people were killed in the South East by both state and non-state actors between January 2021 and June 2023.

The organisation’s Director, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this during the presentation of a report and campaign launch against insecurity in the region, titled “A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South East”, held on 7 October.

Many Nigerians are now placing renewed hope in the recently appointed service chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praying that their tenure will bring lasting peace and restore public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.

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