The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, says it will work with the National Senior Citizens, NSCC towards achieving the mandate for which it was established.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora gave the assurance while receiving the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro in his office when she came for the formal presentation of NSCC Strategic Roadmap on Ageing 2022-2032 with a partnership proposal with the Ministry and its Agencies.
Dr Mamora said with the zeal exhibited by the management of the National Senior Citizens Centre, a robust partnership for the wellbeing of Senior Citizens through mainstreaming of Ageing and related programs with the Ministry and its Agencies was doable.
“One way will be through research findings and multi-sector partnerships to identify challenges and initiate innovative programs and services that will improve quality of lives of older persons, while also promoting intergenerational synergies and economic growth opportunities”. He said
The Director General, NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokaro said the Centre would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and its Agencies to develop a reliable and Sustainable Database of senior Citizens.
According to her, the data base will be developed with the view of establishing Senior Citizens Resource Centres across the Six Geo-Political Zones and develop Senior Citizens Personal Information Portal.
The plans she said, are tailored towards the success of NSCC’s flagship programs; the Continuing Engagement Bureau Program and NSCC Senior-Led Indigenous Crafts and Skills Empowerment program.
“Others are, the establishment of Synergies with Relevant Stakeholders on operationalizing the Resource Centers and Information Portals, Identify their skills, experiences and their strategies and ability.
“The NSCC Continuing Engagement Bureau program is expected to Strengthen access to information and knowledge on possible engagements for senior citizens and provide for exchange of information and knowledge among agencies, NGO’s and Government as well as create enabling and supportive environment for engaging the services of senior citizens post retirement
NSCC Senior-led indigenous crafts and skills empowerment program – Having conducted national assessments of Senior-led indigenous crafts and skills, findings revealed the dire need to develop modern techniques, tools and processing infrastructures to relieve drudgery and expand production making it attractive to the youth to be involved. Mat making, cloth weaving, pottery, boat making, tie and dying, fishing net making etc”.
The DG further said,
“NSCC is interested in the provision of age friendly “TELE HEALTH” opportunities to our older persons as a means to improve access to health care which the older persons desperately need”.
Dr. Onakaro also appealed for support to build the model Active Senior Center using Nigeria’s indigenous burnt bricks, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Olusola Akintonde
