by Uzodinma Adirieje, Afrihealth Media/Afrihealth Information Projects; with Agency Reports
In line with its commitment to promoting healthy aging in Nigeria, the Federal Government has selected fifty elderly persons from Hope Waddel Training Institute Calabar, the fifth oldest secondary school in Nigeria, to help mentor younger students in the country.
This was recently announced by the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro, that the fifty elders will share knowledge and experiences of seniors with the younger generations. Represented by Head of Corporate Affairs, Media and Communications,
National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Omini Oden, during the celebration of the 130 years of the Hope Waddel Training Institute, Dr. Omokaro explained that this will afford both generations to benefit from each other through a structured Mentoring relationship fostering connections, inspirations, and the transfer of torches across different age groups.
According to the DG, “To apply the longevity lens is to appreciate the weight of the impact of decades of accumulation and transference of values, principles, character and knowledge content, and their translation into leadership for National building in various spheres. … We are honored to have 50 Elder Statemen and to humbly identify and invest them with the NSCC Distinguished Envoy pin. …NSCC Goodwill Ambassadors of Age-friendly Services and Elder Justice Advocacy. Media & entertainment veterans who are a network support for NSCC’s programmes.”
Continuing, Dr. Omokaro informed that “Its mission is to address the challenges faced by older individuals and to enhance their quality of life and well-being. …We are excited to showcase our various transformative and innovative programs, particularly our Continuing Engagement Bureau program, which provides senior citizens with opportunities to contribute to their communities through work schemes and labor market agreements. …Today, we present our senior alumni with the position of NSCC Distinguished Envoy for Intergenerational Learning and Youth Mentoring. NSCC facilitates engagement platforms for both the Institute and its alumni to realize the theme of Hope Waddell’s 130th anniversary namely Glorious Heritage: Inspiring the Future.”
According to Omokaro, the NSCC aims to partner with the alumni to serve as distinguished faces and voices, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences between generations through structured mentoring relationships that inspire and foster connections. She invited the alumni aged 60 and above from Hope Waddell to embrace this platform, which objective is to promote intergenerational activities, cross-generational learning, and life coaching, she added.
In response, the National President of Hope Wardel Training Institute Alumni Association, Efioita Okon Ephraim commended the NSCC for making them pioneers to benefit from the Institute and to mentor the younger ones, and promised that they will deliver on their expectations because they have the experiences and expertise to groom young people.
Established by the National Citizens Center Act 2017, the National Senior Citizens Centre has the mandate to identify the needs of senior citizens and to cater for them. It is the first distinct national corporate body with focus on social inclusion of senior citizens in sustainable development and the improvement of the quality of living and well-being for self-fulfillment. The NSCC is to identify opportunities for trainings to enhance capacities of senior citizens, initiate, facilitate and implement educational, health and social programs, productive activities and work schemes in order to provide income or otherwise supplement earnings of senior citizens. NSCC is to also ensure, the provision of recreation, sports and counseling programs, all aiming to enhance the dignity, independence, security and care of Nigeria’s senior citizens. Dr. Emen Omokaro is the first Director General of the NSCC.
Among others present and honoured were Mr Okon Onoyom-Ita, Engr Slim Otu Antia, Pastor Obong Bassey Obong, Prof. Chinemelu Okoye, Engr Andy Onyung, Prof Ekpenyong Itam, Archbishop Idem Ikon, Dr Donald Ikpe, Engr Amba Nsunwara, Pastor Godfrey Onwuzo, Chief Gershom Henshaw, Mr. Okon Onoyom-Ita, Engr. Slim Otu Antia, Pst. Obong Bassey Obong, Prof. Chinemelu Okoye, Engr. Andy Onyung, Prof. Ekpenyong Itam, Archbishop Idem Ikon, Dr. Donald Ikpe, Engr. Amba Nsunwara, Pst. Godfrey Onwuzo, Chief Gershom Henshaw, Dr. Mrs. Deborah Edide, Mr. Akabom Enebong, Engr. Bassey Ephraim, Mazi Emmanuel Chiori, Elder Gershom Davis, Dr. Enun B. Enun, Dr. Kofi Ikpeme and Mr. George Bassey.