NOA, NSCC Partner to Advance Rights and Welfare of Senior Citizens

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Senior Citizens Commission (NSCC) have pledged to collaborate in promoting the rights and welfare of senior citizens through an intergenerational approach that emphasizes shared responsibility across all segments of society.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the NSCC, the Director General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stressed the urgent need to strengthen support systems for elderly citizens in Nigeria, noting that global best practices demonstrate the importance of providing adequate care and protection for the aging population.

Issa-Onilu commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for creating special provisions for senior citizens at airports and urged other institutions and sectors across the country to adopt similar initiatives that cater to the needs of the elderly.

He further assured that the NOA would leverage its nationwide platforms to promote and protect the rights of senior citizens, emphasizing that old age is a stage everyone hopes to attain and must therefore be treated with dignity, respect, and adequate support.

Earlier in her remarks, the Director General of NSCC, Omobolanle Akinyemi, explained that the visit was aimed at establishing a strategic partnership with the NOA in order to utilize the agency’s extensive communication network to amplify awareness about the rights of senior citizens across Nigeria’s diverse languages.

Akinyemi noted that senior citizens value being heard, as it gives them a sense of inclusion and encourages active participation in societal affairs.

She added that keeping older persons informed on issues affecting their lives is critical, stressing that access to relevant information empowers them to assert their rights and remain productive and respected members of society.

The meeting ended with the NOA Director General presenting a plaque bearing the core values of the National Values Charter to the NSCC Director General as a symbol of strengthened collaboration between the two agencies.