The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has revealed that the creation of multipurpose senior citizen centres across the state is delayed by a lack of available land. During an interview in Abuja, NSCC director-general Emem Omokaro revealed that the organisation was working on constructing facilities for older individuals as part of the ‘One Community One Senior Centre Project’. Ms. Omokaro mentioned that a collaboration had been established with the SDGs office to construct 10 facilities within the year.
Likewise, the SDGs office specified that the priority is to secure land in any state where they will be built and furnished. Therefore, they are contacting the governors of each state. Ms. Omokaro emphasised the importance of governors establishing and outfitting a new centre in a rural location to access the benefits of the SDG program. Collaborating with the SDG’s office, the plan is to construct a senior citizens facility in the city, while the state government will focus on building ones in rural regions. They aim to create a buy-one-get-one-free situation where one is built, and another follows suit.
Lack of sufficient funds poses a challenge for the construction project.
Also, the chief of NSCC revealed that agreements had been made with private sectors to handle the Construction as part of their corporate social responsibility. She explained that establishing one in each community is a collaboration between the public and private sectors. Although the project lacks sufficient funds for construction, it possesses a well-thought-out plan to make it a reality. The Private Sector has already initiated partnerships to construct and donate, leading to the swift establishment of these centres nationwide through various innovative approaches.
Omokaro emphasised the significance in addressing the isolation and sense of exclusion often felt by elderly individuals in both rural and urban communities. She highlighted the plans for a centre that would cater to the overall well-being of the country’s elderly by offering a safe and engaging community space that promotes emotional, intellectual, social, and physical health. She expressed that they will be designed to encourage Education and counselling programs, offer volunteer opportunities, provide skills development opportunities, promote literacy, and cater to arts and recreational activities.
Public sector will provide land and infrastructure for development.
A vital component of the NSCC’s project is obtaining property to develop the centres. The collaboration between the NSCC and the SDGs office is a testament to this progress, along with state governors’ support on the land provision. To guarantee accessible and thorough coverage, these initiatives concentrate on urban and rural regions. While some states have responded favourably and shown support, others are still locating suitable locations. Difficulties include ensuring the places selected are reasonably accessible to the older population, managing competing land use demands, and bureaucratic delays.
Strong public-private sector partnership is essential to this initiative’s success. The primary forms of Public Sector involvement are land provision and initial infrastructural support, which state and local governments enable. As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the business sector is instrumental in financing and building the centres. Businesses are invited to collaborate with the NSCC on constructing these centres; several have already committed time, funds, and expertise. These collaborations guarantee that the centres have contemporary amenities and relieve financial limitations.
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Lastly, the intended senior citizen centres are intended to be more than just physical locations; by offering a range of services and programmes, they hope to improve the general well-being of senior citizens. Each centre will host educational courses on technology, nutrition, and health issues to keep older citizens interested and informed. Programmes for physical well-being, such as fitness courses and health examinations, will support maintaining their physical well-being. Social events and recreational activities will be organised to promote social connections and reduce feelings of loneliness, such as music sessions, arts and crafts projects, and community excursions.