A non-governmental organisation, Soritz Empower Elders Foundation, has urged governments at all levels to prioritise the welfare of senior citizens across the country. It lamented that older persons are among the most neglected groups in Nigeria despite their immense contributions to society.
At the foundation’s launch in Kaduna, the founder and chief executive officer, Mrs. Rita Ebofin, said the government must take deliberate steps to make life better for the elderly.
She specifically called for accessible walkways in public buildings and free healthcare for common ailments such as eye problems, noting that many elderly people resort to harmful herbal remedies because they cannot afford treatment.
“Most elderly people rely on harmful herbal remedies because they cannot afford treatment. Whether we like it or not, we are all getting old someday,” she said.
Mrs. Ebofin said that while causes such as the girl-child, widows and orphanages receive wide attention and funding, the elderly continue to face continuous, unmet needs.
“When people want to celebrate birthdays, they go to orphanages with a carton of noodles, take pictures and leave. But the elderly have continuous, unmet needs,” she added.
She disclosed that the Soritz Empower Elders Foundation is working to change that narrative through a batch-by-batch empowerment model.
According to her, the NGO has already transformed the lives of about 30 elderly people in its first phase by supporting them to set up small trades, providing equipment such as grinding machines, paying shop rent and teaching them how to save.
“Some of them were walking with bad legs and carrying trays on their heads. We provided alternatives by setting them up in shops,” she explained.
Mrs. Ebofin also appealed to corporate organisations to partner with the foundation through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, saying some companies have already approached the foundation.
She further revealed that the long-term vision of the foundation is to expand its operations nationwide within five years, establish a care home for indigent elders and procure a bus to ease transportation challenges for beneficiaries.
Mrs Juliana Audu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the foundation for putting smiles on their faces.
