The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has empowered 157 Senior Citizens in Bauchi State.
Dr Emem Omokaroa,Director General of the Centre stated this at the town hall meeting with stakeholders virtually on Wednesday in Bauchi.
She explained that the empowerment programs were to meet and support the needs of senior citizens anchoring on partnerships with reaching Multi-stakeholder engagements linking 36 States and their local governments.
“NSCC identified relevant MDAs and initiated partnerships for establishment of aging desks and appointment of desk officers with 32 MDAs and the National Assembly House Committees on Disability and Women Affairs and Social Development offering their hands of fellowship.
“Under income security, entrepreneurship and work schemes, the National Senior Citizens Centre in partnership with the National Directorate of Employment successfully mainstreamed older persons into the NDE Matured People program.
“NSCC’s Partnership with the National Social investment program ensured the inclusion of older persons in the one-off Poor and Vulnerable Grant of 20,000 naira each,” he said.
The DG said about 157 senior citizens benefited from empowerment programmes such as one off grant for the vulnerable,NSCC senior led indigenous crafts and NDE Mature People program.
Dr Omokaroa maintained that Investing to enhance senior citizens capacity is equivalent to investing in enterprises.
“We are going to give them opportunities to continue to contribute their wealth of experience in their communities for them to give back to society.
In her remark, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said the Federal Government developed the National Policy on Ageing and also established the National Senior Citizens Centre to meet the challenges of older persons in the country.
She was represented by Senior Assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on Humanitarian Affairs , Alhaji Musa Bungudu said the center has ensured, that the very essential institutions, systems and mechanisms to facilitate the quality of life, economic and social participation of older persons are guaranteed.
“The challenges of older persons and the opportunities that accrue from meeting these challenges are integrated into Nigeria’s development plans.”
“I am delighted to say that with the establishment of the National Senior Citizens Center, the concerns of older persons are no longer handled in a discretionary and arbitrary manner but are now addressed comprehensively,” he said