NGO Seeks Better Deal For The Elderly

Mr. Tunde Babs-Olurinde, Executive Chairman, Skindudu Aged Foundation, says there is an urgent need for the younger generation to imbibe the culture of caring for the elderly citizens.

He disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Annual Seminar/Get-Together for Senior Citizens in Lagos on Sunday.

Babs-Olurinde said the foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), was trying to revive the values of caring for the old in Africa, which he said were presently being eroded.

“As we all know, governments at all levels pay special attention to the youth population, which of course is the ‘tomorrow’ of the society.

“We should not forget, however, that as tomorrow starts today, so did today start yesterday,” Babs-Olurinde said.

He explained that people between the ages of 30 and 55 and majority of decision-makers in almost all spheres of life would later retire to become part of the elderly citizens.

The foundation chairman called on the youths who are in positions of authority to “use their good offices today to promote the cause of the senior citizens.”

“This is because at some point, it is going to be their turn as well,” he said.

Babs-Olurinde said plans were on the way to spread the reach of the seminar, which the foundation started in 2009.

“It began at the grassroots level, and it is now at every local government area of the state,” he said.

Babs-Olurinde called for support of state governments and the private sector to make old age in Nigeria worthwhile.

“At Skindudu Aged Foundation, it is our genuine desire to inspire the younger generation at every point in time.

“We want them to always be conscious of the peculiar circumstances of the senior citizens in our midst, brought about by age and which of course is a natural occurrence,” he said.

NAN reports that various pharmaceutical companies, including Fidson, Pfizer, Vitabiotics and Daily Needs Industries, donated drugs to the elderly citizens.

Blood tests and other medical check-ups were conducted for the elderly at the occasion.