NHRC Trains Staff To Tackle Rising Elder Abuse Cases In Nigeria

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for stronger protection of older persons in Nigeria, warning that many elderly citizens continue to suffer abuse, neglect, and exploitation in silence.

The executive secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, made the call in an address delivered on his behalf by the Director of the Vulnerable Groups Department, Barr. Dahiru S. Bobbo, at a two-day capacity building workshop for NHRC staff on combating elder abuse, held on Wednesday in Abuja.

The workshop was organised by the Commission’s Vulnerable Groups Department to strengthen staff capacity to respond to cases affecting older persons and promote the protection of their rights and dignity across the country.

Ojukwu described the training as “timely and necessary,” noting that the growing population of older persons in Nigeria has also led to an increase in cases of elder abuse.

According to him, elder abuse takes multiple forms, including physical and psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and harmful traditional practices.

“Older persons are not exceptions. They are rights holders entitled to dignity, equality and full protection under the law. Yet many continue to suffer in silence, often invisible within our communities and systems,” he said.

He said the NHRC remains committed to promoting, protecting, and enforcing the human rights of all persons without discrimination, stressing that older persons must not be excluded from the national human rights protection framework.

Ojukwu explained that the training was designed to equip staff with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, document, investigate, and advocate against elder abuse effectively.

He added that the programme would deepen participants’ understanding of the rights of older persons within national, regional, and international human rights frameworks.

Describing human rights defenders as frontline agents of justice, he said their role goes beyond professional duty.

“As frontline officers of the Commission, you play a vital role in ensuring that the voices of older persons are heard, their grievances addressed and their dignity upheld,” he stated.

Ojukwu noted that the training would be conducted in batches as part of the Commission’s broader effort to strengthen inclusivity and capacity development.

He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions and apply the knowledge gained in their respective duty posts.

He listed the objectives of the workshop to include enhancing staff capacity to recognise and respond to different forms of elder abuse, strengthening advocacy skills, and promoting a rights-based approach in interventions concerning older persons.

He maintained that protecting older persons from abuse and strengthening institutional responses would help build a society where dignity and respect for all ages are guaranteed.