One Day With Senior Citizens

In a touching move, the Elders’ Consultative Forum, Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association (OGSAA), has initiated an annual love feast program, “One Day With Senior Citizens”, where senior citizens of Nigeria (elders) can be celebrated and recognized for the great impacts they have made in the country.

While speaking during the launching of the maiden edition of “One Day With Senior Citizens” Dr Otunba David Tola Winjobi, the Roving Coordinator of Elders’ Consultative Forum OGSAA, highlighted that the senior citizens among OGSAA are a crop of people who have made an impact one way or the other in life. 

He further revealed that many of the senior citizens through their fields of endeavors have contributed immensely to the peace, progress and development of Nigeria. 

“Unfortunately, many are not recognized by the government or any groups for the feats achieved by these elderly ones despite the fact that they have served and some are still serving their fatherland wholeheartedly.

“Unfortunately too, some have become a lone ranger – living alone. Some are in a pitiable condition. Some do not have mates they can relate with as they have lost contact with them many years ago. 

“For some, recreation is out of it as they don’t even know where to go to recreate. Sad to note, some are waiting to die as they become despondent because of the vicissitudes of life while some are aging gracefully. Loneliness kills faster; fraternizing with friends and family tends to prolong life.”

While highlighting the aim of the annual program, Dr. Winjobi said, “We are giving our own senior citizens special treats. We are recognizing them. We want them to recognize and appreciate one another too.

“Thus, we are organizing a once in a year forum for all the elders of Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association tagged ONE DAY WITH SENIOR CITIZENS.. 

“This is the maiden edition we are organizing this year by the Grace of God. We want our senior citizens to come together to reminisce on the past and enjoy themselves and thank God as well for making them to be alive.”

He also noted that a WhatsApp platform has been created to sustain the initiative.  “We have quite a sizable number of them though the platform is not functioning to satisfaction, maybe because elders hear much but say a little.”

Dr Winjobi had suggestions that would make the programme more robust.

“I suggest schools where there are functioning alumni associations across Nigeria should launch similar programs for their senior citizens. 

“The executive of such old students’ association should organize a once in a year or twice a year or quarterly forum whereby these senior citizens would come together to felicitate with one another, play games together, throw banters, wine and dine so as not to only give them a sense of belonging but also to stem loneliness and prolong their lives.”

He also advised that the children of the aged people should cultivate the habit of visiting their parents from time to time, spending quality time with them, putting smiles on their faces and supporting them in all ramifications possible rather than leaving their aged parents in the hands of wonton caregivers and careless neighbours. “If such children are living far away they could arrange for trusted relations to be living with them.”

Addressing the key roles Government can play, he suggested, “there should be legislation by governments at all levels to ensure that gratuities of those who have served their fatherland are paid at least two months after disengagement while monthly pensions should start the following month of their retirement. Failure to deny these senior citizens their entitlements should be met with stringent sanctions according to the law.  

“There should be a policy on free health care services in all our health facilities across the country for all adults above 65 years of age. It is not enough to disguise free health care or health insurance under mere free consultation; the free services should encompass free drugs and surgery as may be required. Health care policy for our aged should be comprehensive and free without let or hindrance.

In addition, he suggested that retired civil servants should not be made to undergo the rigour of going to any government secretariat for ungodly verification exercise as many of them are no longer agile while some that make it often collapse at the verification centres. “Instead, pension officers should visit those elders in their various homes to capture or update the data of the latter.”

Bearing in mind the autonomy granted the local governments recently, he added, “They should establish at least one senior citizen’s home per ward in each of the local government areas. 

“These homes should be equipped with relevant materials and assorted games tailored to the need of old citizens so as to serve as a forum for them to recreate with fellow senior citizens.”

I wish all a successful maiden edition of “One Day with Senior Citizens” of Elders’ Consultative Forum of Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association (OGSAA).

GWG.ng noted highlights of the event to include: dancing to old tunes, playing assorted games (ludo, ayo olopon, whot, draft, chess scrabble) health check, and health talk on old age and your health. 

There was plenty to eat and drink to make the day enjoyable and memorable. It will be full of fun including reminiscing on old school days, throwing of banters, plating pranks, jokes etc.

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