Mr Adeyinka Obalade, Chairman 60 Plus Advocacy Initiative, has stated that respect for the elderly has deteriorated amongst the younger generation and as such it is paramount that campaigns to resuscitate the respect for the elderly be carried out and enshrined in schools from primary to tertiary institutions in a bid to inculcate the value of respect for the elderly especially from the cradle.
He made this statement at an event organized by the association today at the Arch Bishop Soremekun Memorial Hall, Lagos Island tagged “Respect & Help the Elderly”, a public awareness campaign geared towards enshrining the value of respect for the elderly.
The event saw the attendance of key government dignitaries in the persons of Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti – Osa 11 Local Government Area as the Guest of Honour, Mrs. Olatunde Eniola representing the Lagos State Chairman Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB Hon. Wahab Olawale Alawiye – King, Executive Members of the association and twelve public primary schools from Lagos Island.
The Chairman also mentions that this is a pilot campaign which is billed to go to the secondary and tertiary institutions. He further adds that the campaign is in line with the core objectives of the association as the younger ones today will become elders tomorrow, and as such the elderly should be respected, loved, helped and protected in the society.
In a bid to enshrine these values of respect for the elderly, the schools represented were given activities to perform in line with the campaign to showcase their understanding of who an elder is and how an elder should be treated in the society. Awards, gifts and certificates of participation were given to outstanding students and their schools. Ansarudeen Primary School Okepopo, St Mary Girls and St Mary Girls Convent came tops in the quiz competition.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa 11 Local Government Area while addressing the schools states that the campaign by 60 Plus Advocacy Initiative to Primary schools is in the right direction as children are the future of our country Nigeria. He adds that pupils representing their schools today, are now ambassadors billed with the responsibility of carrying the campaign to their homes, neighborhoods, schools, places of worship and the society at large. He further reiterates that they now have a mandate to correct and teach others how to show love, help and respect to the elderly.
Responding to the Honourable, the Founder of 60 Plus Advocacy Initiative Mrs. Dupe Fashina appealed that the association should be invited for presentations during meetings of Honourables in the State representing the various Local Government Areas so that the campaign can be embraced and enshrined in other Local Government Areas.
She also made an appeal to Mrs. Olatunde Eniola representing the Chairman Lagos State SUBEB, that the association should be given an invitation for presentation on the crusade for the respect of the elderly during meetings with schools in the state in a bid to spread the campaign which when embraced will definitely raise a new generation of children and youth who respect and love the elderly.
The primary schools present include: Anwar –Ul- Islam Primary School, St Mathias Boy Primary School, St Peter Faaji Schools, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School. St Mathias Girls Primary School, Tinyubu Methodist School, Anglican Girls Seminary School, Christ Church Cathedral School, Ansarudeen Primary School Okepopo, Ebute Elefun Primary School, St Mary Girls, St Mary Girls Convent.
60 Plus Advocacy Initiative launched on the 19th of November 2020 is a non-profit, non-religious, non-governmental and non-partisan association, promoting the interest of the rights of senior citizens in Nigeria, by embarking on public awareness campaigns to improve the quality of living for every senior citizen in Nigeria, by teaching the younger generations to respect the rights of the older persons. The association also organizes sustainable programs and train volunteers who are willing to serve as caregivers for senior citizens and also organizes campaigns against discriminations and abuse of the elders on the grounds of age.
The association has recorded success stories in its short period of existence which includes: Placement of 250 senior citizens from Epe, Isolo and Surulere on the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), which is the health scheme under the Lagos State Government, provision of Keke Marwa to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja LASUTH), AND Gbagada General Hospitals to assist the elderly move around the hospital, advocacy for the creation of Geriatric Centers in all primary Health Care Centers and implementation of the Bill for the establishment of the Center For Senior Citizens across Nigeria.
