Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to show greater compassion and care for elderly people within their families and communities in order to help them live longer and healthier lives.
She made the appeal on Saturday during the inauguration of the Arise Senior Citizens Centre located along the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo.
The newly established centre is designed to support senior citizens by providing healthcare services, recreational facilities, and opportunities for social interaction aimed at improving their wellbeing and quality of life.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady commended Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for constructing the centre and demonstrating commitment to the welfare of elderly citizens in the state.
She noted that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to ensure that no Nigerian—especially the elderly—is left behind.
“We have to really have compassion for the elderly; old age can be a very lonely period, especially when a spouse is gone,” she said.
“They experience emptiness when children they have raised move on with their lives. It can be a very lonely time. This centre you have built will help them live longer.”
The First Lady also urged other state governors across the country to replicate similar centres in their respective states as part of efforts to improve the welfare and social engagement of elderly citizens.
She recalled that during her time in the Senate, she had proposed special economic support for elderly Nigerians, including stipends, but the initiative did not materialise. She appealed to the current National Assembly to revisit the bill, stressing that senior citizens deserve support after contributing significantly to society throughout their lives.
Tinubu expressed concern over the neglect and abandonment faced by some elderly Nigerians.
“Aging should not mean isolation or neglect, but comfort, respect, and continued engagement with society,” she said.
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Eno revealed that the project was conceived by his late wife, the late Patience Eno, whose compassion for elderly persons inspired the initiative.
According to the governor, his administration holds senior citizens in high regard in recognition of their lifelong contributions to society.
He disclosed that the state government currently pays a monthly stipend of ₦50,000 to 600 elderly persons across the 369 wards in Akwa Ibom State and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare services for them.
“The project was dear to my wife, and I am sure she will be happy today as you inaugurate it,” Eno said.
In her remarks, the governor’s daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, described her late mother as a compassionate woman whose love for the elderly led to the conception of the centre.
She also expressed gratitude to the First Lady for honouring the family by inaugurating the facility in memory of her late mother.
