Aging is a natural phenomenon that inevitably, applies to all humans. Nigeria, according to statistics, has the highest population of older adults in Africa, and the population of Nigerians aged 65 and above is projected to reach 25.3 million in 2050.
However, the increase in older persons in Nigeria is occurring against the backdrop of extreme poverty, unsolved development issues, socio-economic inequality, and a decline in the care and support for the elderly. Equally worrisome is the absence of an operational national aging policy which poses a challenge to older people in Nigeria.
In this interview with Persecondnews correspondent, AJUMA EDWINA AMEH, a geriatric social worker and Executive Director, Centre on Aging, Development and Rights of Older Persons (CADROP), Olayinka Ajomale, makes case for older people in Nigeria.
Excerpts:
What inspired you to focus on ageing and the rights of old people?
When I went into social works, I discovered that there was no emphasis on the social aspect of ageing. So I look into it because of my background; I was brought up by my grandmother. Along the line, I discovered that the rights of older persons are being denied every day; by the family, the community, and the government. There are also cases of maltreatment. I want to be old someday and I believe that if I can help put the wrong right now, by the time I’m that age, I will meet a better society for old people.
How do you define aging, and what are some of the common myths and misconceptions that people have about aging?
Aging as we all say is a period that most people see as being dependent on others, you’re dependent on the family, and you’re dependent on society. The misconception is that you’re a burden, that rather than being a contributor; they take so much out of you, forgetting the fact that along the line in their youthful age they contributed to building the society. So, when they are in old age, they are frail, and they can’t do as much as they used to do. I think the society should see them as assets rather than burden. Assets in the sense that they are good for consultation; they know the past, they know the future. They can put the generation coming in the proper light before they get to old age. Then there is this misconception that when any calamity happens in the family, it’s the elderly woman who is behind it, they accuse her of witchcraft.
How can the society better support and empower older people to remain active and engage with members of the community?
Giving them roles to play in the society. I’m glad that the government sees 70-year-old judges as being useful. People even beyond 60, which is the retirement age, are still very useful to the society. You can even re-engage them. They can do community service, they can do things that will not take so much out of them physically, and they can mentor the younger generation, it propels capacity building. Older people have so much and they can still give so much to the society.
What are some of the pressing issues facing older people in Nigeria today?
There are many pressing issues. We have poverty, lack of social security. Not all of them worked for the government, they can’t wait for pension. Besides, the socio-economic situation of the country has made their pension so insignificant, the purchasing power is so low that it cannot meet up with their needs.
Secondly, family members are so overburdened also by the socio-economic situation that their children cannot even take care of their immediate families let alone their aged parents.
Also, the issue of migration from the rural to the urban centers has left so many elderly people in the rural areas facing a lot of hardship. Most importantly, the society needs to change its attitude towards the way we see elderly people, because a lot of people, particularly the younger generation don’t see them deserving the kind of respect they deserve.
Most of them don’t even have access to health care facilities. Recently, there was agitation for health insurance for them. Most people when they are 60 years, no insurance company wants to take them because they believe that they will keep getting sick and will be spending the money of the insurance company.
What is your organization doing to ensure that the bill on older person’s rights and privilege is signed?
We are working seriously to ensure that that bill is passed. Both arms of the National Assembly have passed it, it’s just the President we are waiting for. But I think the President returned it to the National Assembly for further amendment. Usually that is what we have when Presidency sees that certain portions of the bill are not likely for government to implement. So, when amendments are made here and there, the President will sign it. I’m very hopeful that the new government will sign it.
Are there any legal and policy frameworks that exist in Nigeria to protect the rights of older people?
There is no specific legal framework. This is because they just lump them up as adults, they are supposed to be seen as a special group, because in our legal framework, the way you treat people with disability or vulnerable children or women is quite different. We have the Child Rights Act. So the Elders’ Right Act will solve all that I earlier mentioned because there’s no legal framework. I have experienced abuse of elderly people so many times. I know of someone who locked his mother in his boys quarters and was feeding her like a dog because he suspects she’s a witch, meanwhile, she has dementia.
We took the case to the police station and they asked us on what basis should we file this case. The police will always conclude that it’s a family problem. There’s no part of our law that says anybody who maltreats his mother or father should be prosecuted this way or that way. The legal counsel, their hands are tied; the national human rights commission, even when they want to take it from the point of human rights, can’t move more than just persuading the individual to stop that act of abuse.
How can we promote more positive attitudes towards ageing and older people in our society?
By creating so much awareness and also advocacy for their rights. Creating awareness is very important because a lot of people are ignorant of what is happening. There is this general believe that taking care of or caring for elderly people is the responsibility of the individual families, that is not true. Yes the family, community and larger community has its roles to play, but the government also has its role to play. We need to start from the individual to the family, to the society and we must also keep reminding the government of its responsibility to people who are elderly in the society.
What advice would you give to younger generation and the policymakers who are interested in promoting the rights and well-being of older people?
Let us be resilient, let us continue to fight, we are sowing a seed for the future. I’m in my late 50’s and in a few year’s time, I will enter the geriatric age. Younger people should join us in this vanguard, let us fight for good quality life for old people. Whatever we sow, we shall reap. If we sow goodness for elderly people now, when we get there we will eat out of the goodness, but when we sow negative things, by the time we get there we will face it.
So, the society has to change. Let the younger people know that the older people are not a burden in any form.
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