Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to do more to protect the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of senior citizens, whose wisdom, sacrifices and contributions have helped shape society. In a statement issued on Monday, June 15, 2026, to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Mrs Tinubu stressed that elderly citizens deserve to be respected, protected and cared for, rather than left to endure physical, emotional, financial and psychological abuse.
The First Lady noted that this year’s theme, “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work”, challenges all stakeholders to move from mere recognition of the problem to concrete action. She said that as the population ages and the challenges of aging begin to emerge, society must strive to honour and care for the elderly by strengthening systems of care, community support and social protection to ensure that no older person is left vulnerable or abandoned. “Our senior citizens have contributed immensely to the development of our nation,” she said. “We owe them a duty of care, respect and protection.”
Mrs Tinubu urged families, communities, religious organisations and government agencies to work together to detect and prevent elder abuse, including neglect, financial exploitation, physical harm and emotional mistreatment. She called for the establishment of support networks that ensure older persons can live with dignity, free from fear and isolation. The First Lady’s message aligns with global efforts by the United Nations to raise awareness of elder abuse, which affects millions of older persons worldwide, often at the hands of caregivers or family members. The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing policies and programmes that protect the rights of older persons, including the National Senior Citizens Centre and the draft National Policy on Ageing.
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