Senator Eze Ajoku, President of the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria, COSROPIN, has called on the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to intensify its efforts in combating elder abuse and protecting the rights of older persons in Nigeria. He made this call during a one-day training of NHRC staff in Abuja, themed “Strengthening Human Rights Defenders and Advocates in Combating Elder Abuse and Protecting the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria”. The training aimed to equip NHRC staff with the necessary skills to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of elder abuse.
Senator Ajoku expressed concern over the alarming rate of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination in society. He stressed the need for NHRC staff, described as Human Rights Defenders, to be aware of their responsibilities in protecting the rights of older persons. In his paper presentation, titled “Overview of Older Persons in Nigeria/Causes and Implications of Elder Abuse”, Ajoku advised NHRC staff to be committed to promoting, protecting, and enforcing human rights, particularly for the less privileged.
Ajoku highlighted the challenges faced by older persons in Nigeria, noting that many have laboured throughout their youth with dignity and honour but now live in loneliness, poverty, sickness, and neglect. He attributed the increasing life expectancy to improvements in medicine, healthcare, and public awareness, but noted that the systems of protection and care for older persons have not kept pace. This has resulted in older persons being abandoned, struggling financially, and suffering emotional abuse.
The COSROPIN President emphasized that older persons are not liabilities but custodians of wisdom, memory, sacrifice, faith, leadership, and culture. He stressed the need for regular training and retraining of NHRC workforce to identify, prevent, document, monitor, and respond to cases of elder abuse. This, he believes, will ensure the dignity of older persons in society.
Senator Ajoku also called for measures to strengthen the Commission’s institutional capacity to advocate for the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of older persons, in line with national, regional, and international human rights standards. He urged the NHRC to become the voice of the neglected, the defender of the abandoned, and the shield for vulnerable older persons in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, commended Senator Ajoku for his paper presentation and noted that the training was organized to enhance the capacity of NHRC staff in protecting the rights of older persons. He advised participants to put into practice what they have learnt to improve their productivity and expressed the Commission’s readiness to partner with COSROPIN and other relevant organizations.
The collaboration between the NHRC and COSROPIN aims to promote and protect the rights of older persons in Nigeria. The training is a step towards ensuring that older persons receive the dignity and respect they deserve. Senator Ajoku’s call to action emphasizes the need for collective efforts to address the challenges faced by older persons in Nigeria.
Key points
- * Senator Eze Ajoku calls on NHRC to redouble efforts in combating elder abuse and protecting the rights of older persons in Nigeria. * Older persons in Nigeria face challenges such as loneliness, poverty, sickness, and neglect. * NHRC and COSROPIN aim to collaborate to promote and protect the rights of older persons in Nigeria.
