NSCC empowers 157 senior citizens in Bauchi
By Halima Abdulkadiri
The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), says it has empowered 157 senior citizens to improve their social and economic wellbeing in Bauchi State.
The Director-General of the Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro stated this at a stakeholders’ virtual meeting on Wednesday in Bauchi.
She said the Centre initiated multi-sector partnership and stakeholders’ engagements to support older persons across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“NSCC identified relevant MDAs and initiated partnerships for establishment of aging desks and appointment of desk officers with 32 MDAs and the National Assembly House Committees on Disability and Women Affairs and Social Development offering their hands of fellowship.
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“Under income security, entrepreneurship and work schemes, the National Senior Citizens Centre in partnership with the National Directorate of Employment successfully mainstreamed older persons into the NDE Matured People programme.
“NSCC’s partnership with the National Social Investment programme ensured the inclusion of older persons in the one-off Poor and Vulnerable Grant of N20,000 each,” he said.
The NCSS boss said 157 senior citizens benefited from empowerment programmes such as one off grant for the vulnerable, NSCC senior led indigenous crafts and NDE Mature People programme.
According to Omokaro, investing to enhance senior citizens capacity is equivalent to investing in enterprises.
She said the Centre would upscale activities to give opportunities to the senior citizens to continue to contribute their wealth of experience in their communities.
Also, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said the Federal Government developed the National Policy on Ageing and also established the NCSS to meet the challenges of older persons in the country.
Represented by Musa Bungudu, Senior Assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on Humanitarian Affairs, Umar-Farouq said the center institutionalised system guarantee the quality of life, economic and social participation of older people.
“The challenges of older persons and the opportunities that accrue from meeting these challenges are integrated into Nigeria’s development plans.
“I am delighted to say that with the establishment of the NCSS, the concerns of older persons are no longer handled in a discretionary and arbitrary manner but are now addressed comprehensively,” she said.
