Paper by Chief Dr. Mrs. Ivase

MESSAGE BY CHIEF DR. (MRS) ELIZARBETH A. IVASE AT THE OCCASION OF THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS HELD ON THE 23RD OCTOBER, 2007 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION (SGF). FEDERAL SECRETARIAT THREE ARMS ZONE, ABUJA.

PROTOCOL

I feel extremely honoured by Senior Citizens Welfare Advocacy (SCIWAD) for considering me worthy of participation in this years celebration of the International Day of Older Persons. The celebration reminds me, in a unique way, of God’s benevolence and mercy in attaining the enviable status of a senior citizen. It equally, and more importantly, provides me the opportunity to ponder over the plight of older persons in our midst. It is for these reasons that I feel genuinely elated by this invitation.

I have been asked to make some brief comments on ‘Empowering Senior Citizens: The Reality.’ Main speakers to the event, I understand, will be speaking on how the new pension reforms can impact more positively on the lives of older persons.

The population of older persons, the world over, is increasing. Available records show that ‘today one person in ten is 60 years or older and it is projected that by mid-century, the figure will be one person in five globally.’ (Obaid, T.A2006). Some other projections show that by 2030 every third person in several industrialized national will be over 60. In development nations it will take as little as 15 years for the population of older persons to double (e.g. Tunisia) By contrast other nations will take a longer time to achieve similar transition. Chile 30 years, France 115 years). This slower growth allows more ample time for adjusting to the socio-economic consequences. The elderly are said to be the world’s fastest-growing population group (enroblind. org). This trend, no doubt affects all aspect of our human life.

In the economic area, population of Older Persons has huge impact on economic growth, savings, investment and consumption, labour markets, pensions and taxation. In the socio-political sector, population of older persons affects heath care, family composition and living arrangements, housing and migration and voting. These are the challenges which all nations face, Nigeria inclusive.

2 Potentials

The contribution of Older Persons to sustainable human development can not be over emphasized. Such contribution by no means does not diminish with age. A 1 Khalifa (2006) so eloquently captures the contribution of older persons when she posited that ‘in many cultures elders are revered as central figures in the family and community. They pass on history and language and hereby maintaining cultural identity. They also play a significant role in education and caretaking. Increasingly older persons are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren who have been orphaned by Aids or conflicts”.

A1 Khalifa advises that the contributions of older persons are still very important today and should be recognized by all societies. This can be given practical effect by provision of adequate medical care, appropriate legal framework, food and other needs.

3 The Reality

As we gather here today to celebrate this year’s International Day of Older Person’s obvious pertinent questions readily come to mind: How much recognition has our society given to the contribution of Older Persons in our society? How much have we catered to their needs? The candid answer is that as a society and nation we have not excelled.

The United Nations, in its Resolution No 46/91 adopted major principles for Older Persons for member nations. Permit me to attach a copy of the resolution to this message and very sparingly make some reference to it. As a member nation Nigeria is a signatory to this resolution. Not much commitment has been shown in using the principles to enhance the wellbeing of older persons.

Sixteen years after the passage of the resolution, Nigeria has not had its policy on older persons. Policies which enhance the quality of older persons benefit, not only them but all generations. Such a policy makes profuse social and economic sense as it provides the blue print for both the public and private sectors to address the needs of older persons. The absence of such an important roadmap makes the implementation of programmes ad-hoc and discordant in nature.

African countries like Mali, Mauritius, Uganda, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana etc have since put in place their national policies on Older Persons. We urge Nigeria and other Africa countries to join their league.

Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me to return to the UN principles for older person. The first principle states inter alias that ‘older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and heath care through the provision of income, family and community support and self-help’. Older persons in our midst may have access to these necessities of life. The quantum of such accessibility is far being adequate. Government (all tiers), families and the community must do more.

Of course we are all well aware of the nature of the socio-economic environment we live in, in Nigeria today: that of pervasive poverty where more than 50% of the population live below poverty line. Simon Komolafe (This Day Oct. 17, 2007) succinctly captured this when he reported that’ five million youths are jobless, seven million children of primary school age are out of school, 201 children die by the age of five out of every 1000 live births, 800 pregnant women out of 100,000 die during child birth, and 4.4 million live with HIV/AIDS.’ Our dear Hon. Minister of Health was recently quoted to have said that Nigeria has the worst health indicators in the entire wide world.

It becomes extremely difficult for older persons to be adequately catered for in such an economically and socio-politically degraded environment. Older persons amongst us may not be feeding from our dust bins. The fact remains that the hardship to which they are subjected to has grown exponentially. It has become common to see retired soldiers, policemen and other civil/public servants in search of their retirement benefits in our major cities begging to feed, having waited in vain for several weeks or even months. What a way of rewarding people who so earnestly gave their all for their fatherland.

While we decry the plight of our ‘pensioned’ older person we weep for those others who do not have a retirement benefit to fall back on. Of course Older Persons who are on pension constitute an infinitesimal percentage of senior citizens in Nigeria.

The reforms in the nation’s pension administration may redress some of the financial problems faced by ‘pensioned’ Older Person. Older Pensions caught up in the old pension scheme are going through most trying periods as their pension funds are held up in some insurance/investment homes which had been privatized. Some have not received their meager pensions for more than ten months.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the reality of the harsh socio-economic environment in which our older persons live in this country is a national problem. Whether as a ‘pensioned’ peasant or any other category of older persons, they are self same victims of a system that may have reorganized the contentions of elder citizens but is yet to fully and decisively address their very basis.

4 The Way Forward
There is the vital need for all tiers of government and the society (families, communities, NGOS, CBOS, religious bodies) to demonstrate greater commitment to providing a more nourishing and supportive environment. Concern of elder citizens of all descriptions should be brought to the front burner of our national discourse through:
(a) Sustainable support of the human rights and freedom of older persons: these should amongst others include women’s rights: political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; rights to justice.
(b) Addressing the scourge of poverty which also threatens the wellbeing of a vast majority of many (especially elderly women). Such an improvement will positively rub off on older persons in our society.
(c) Ensuring full participation of older persons in society. This makes them feel part of the society and are afforded opportunity to further realize their potentials. Additionally this helps to give a more positive image of ageing. To further enhance this, all stakeholders should give older persons the opportunity to be fully involved in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect them.
(d) Ensuring that the elderly benefit from care and protection, our cherished family values which showed respect and care for the aged should be revived. Efforts o f families should be completed by national mechanisms for extending help to the older persons e.g. legislation to protects women’s rights to inheritance, support to older persons who give care to their grand/great grand children orphaned by HIV/AIDS Obaid reminds us that “Older Persons need love and affection. We will never outgrow our need for affection, emotional closeness, tenderness and love.” This care supper cedes all other forms of care and should be profusely extended to older persons as well.
(e) Unreserved commitment to adoption of national policy/legislation on older persons so that like in other climes we can being to celebrate old age as a blessing and not look at it as a problem and burden to society.

5 Conclusion
May I conclude my message by borrowing from the concerns of A1 Khalifa that a society that empowers its elders is a society that values wisdom and experience. Older Persons are an important part of the wisdom of life itself. They are a living memory and a blessing to their environment. Nigeria cannot, as a nation and as a people ignore this rich repository of knowledge and wisdom. We should strive to create for our older persons a conducive environment to live well and contribute to the wellbeing of their societies.

Thank you most sincerely for all your efforts in uplifting the rights of our older persons. May God help you to succeed.








REFERENCES
a1 Khalifa, S.H.R (2006) Message of the President of the UN General Assembly at the 16th International Day of older Pensions.
Obaid T.A. (2006) Keynote speech at the 16the Annual Observance of the International Day of Older Pensions.
International year of older persons: National targets on ageing.
www.un.org/newlinks/older/99/targets.

United Nations International year for older persons.
www.webspawner.com.

UN International year of older persons, 1999
www.euroblind.org/fichiers GB/uni99