The Federal Government plans to improve the lots of the Senior Citizens in the country, through welfare packages that include access to primary health services, insurance, and financial obligations.
Director General of the newly created National Senior Citizens Centre, in Abuja, Doctor Mmme Omokaro, gave the assurance during a train ride from Mobolaji Johnson Mega station, Ebute Metta, in Lagos to Obafemi Awolowo station, in Moniya, Ibadan, packaged for the leisure and benefits of some Senior Citizens.
DG National Center for the Elderly Citizens Doctor Omokaro.
Doctor Omokaro noted that some of the elderly citizens face many problems such as inadequate care, lack of good health due to absence of good health package for them, loneliness, poverty, while some are having problems collecting their pension. She assured that the new center is out to better the lots of the Senior Citizens.
The Director General said the centre would collate data of the Senior Citizens in the country and issue them with identity cards, as well as demand for suggestions from them on ways the center could solve their problems.
The 56 Elderly Citizens on the standard gauge train turned the trip into a carnival with dances to good music from Saxophonist Hezekiah Oduola. Dressed in customised ankara outfits, they used the trip to celebrate the life of Pa Nathaniel Okoro, a former Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, whom they showered with praises and encomiums for his role in the society and activities when he was the managing director of the corporation.
Pa Okoro, 90 years was presented with gifts among which was a pillow,and cutting of 🍰 cake to mark his birthday.
Pa Okoro, who at 90 is not tired of doing many things including writing books said the celebrated standard gauge was his vision as it was part of his recommendations in 2002 when the then president Olusegun Obasanjo called him from retirement to give the country a vision on the modernisation of the railway
Pa Nathaniel Okoro speaking with newsmen
Pa Okoro, like many of the Elderly people on the train spoke their minds towards the neglect and ill treatment of the elderly in the country, and called on the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Mmme Omokaro to work towards a better change.
Sponsors of the train ride are Nigeria Railway Corporation, National Senior Citizens Centre, Abuja, Family Ark Mission Center for Active Ageing and Networking and Unversity of 3rd Age project.
Managing Director Nigeria Railway Corporation
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