In a bid to promote social interaction and reduce depression among older persons in the country, the Coalition of Societies for the Rights Of Older Persons In Nigeria, COSROPIN, has offered Abuja Metro ride and excursion to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to about one hundred older persons in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Abuja Metro Ride and Excursion to the airport was in partnership with the FCT Social Welfare and National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC.
Speaking during the event in Abuja, the President of COSROPIN, Senator (Dr.) Eze Ajoku, said the gesture was part of celebrations to mark this year’s United Nations, UN, International Day of Older Persons, UNIDOP.
Senator Ajoku commended the Federal Government for the appointment Mrs Mrs Bolanle Akinyemi Obe as the new Director General for the National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC, and for its regular payment of pension to retirees in the country.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to put in place legal framework that would further enhance the wellbeing of older persons nationwide.
Senator Ajoku also used the opportunity to advice older persons to keep hope alive, serve God diligently and give priority to healthy living towards ensuring a graceful ageing.
Some of the older persons, Mr Alex John, Hajiya Halimat Sani and Dr. James Audu who participated in the free light train ride and the excursion commended COSROPIN for the gesture noting that the event provided them the opportunity to socialize and interact with other older persons as well as given them a life time experience.
They also appealed to Federal Government to put in place free health programmes for the elderly and consider monthly stipends to them as obtainable in some other countries.
Other Older Persons who spoke on the excursion to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja described the excursion as a welcomed development
Some of them, Mrs Hannah Ter, Alhaja Aminat Abdullahi and Engr. Smith Adams who could not hide their joy urged COSROPIN to sustain the tempo.
Commenting on the Abuja Metro and the Airport Excursion, the Director General, National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC, Mrs Bolanle Obe equally commended COSROPIN for the laudable evenr which according to her has our smies on the faces of the beneficiaries.
The Director General who was represented by one of her Special Advisers, Dr. Yewnde Olabinjo said the Centre would continue to collaborate with COSROPIN on programmes that would improve the living standard of older persons in the country.
Other activities lined up by COSROPIN to mark this year’s United Nations International Day of Older Persons are golf tournament and football match aimed at promoting regular exercise among the elderly.
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