The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to honour and care for elderly citizens, describing them as invaluable members of society whose wisdom, sacrifices and contributions have helped shape the nation.
Mrs Tinubu, who made the appeal on Monday in her message commemorating the 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, said there is a need for government, private organisations and individuals to work together to improve their welfare and quality of life.
The First Lady stressed that the senior citizens deserve maximum respect at all times because of their age and dedicated service to the nation.
She said, “Today, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026, with the theme ‘Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work’, I call on us to do more to protect the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of senior citizens.
“Our elderly citizens deserve to be respected, protected, and cared for. Yet many continue to face physical, emotional, financial, and psychological abuse.
“As populations age and the challenges of ageing begin to emerge, we must strengthen our systems of care, community support, and social protection to ensure that no older person is left vulnerable or abandoned.”
Mrs Tinubu used the opportunity to remind the younger generation to always respect the elderly because they will one day grow old too.
“I want us to remember that a young person today will become an elder tomorrow. Let us continue to honour and care for our elderly citizens whose wisdom, sacrifices, and contributions have helped shape our society,” she added.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
