Executive Director and Founder of University of the Third Age Nigeria (U3A), Ibadan, Dr. Charles Afolabi, says over 20 per cent of the nation’s elderly are abused daily.
Apart from being abused, the vulnerable group also undergoes deprivations and denial of their fundamental human rights, he said in an interview, on Wednesday.
The virtual University of the Third Age is an international movement with the education and stimulation of mainly retired members (those in their third ‘age’ of life) as its aim.
It started in France as an extramural university activity and significantly modified in the United Kingdom where it was recognized that most people of retirement age have something to contribute and the emphasis has been on sharing without formal links to traditional universities.
In Nigeria, it was inaugurated in Ibadan on July 1, 2007 with 35 members and has grown to 840 members.
U3A Nigeria is multi-generational, promoting inter-generational programmes for the re-engagement of older persons who are transferring their dying vocations to younger generations.
Afolabi noted that the abuses suffered by the elderly were not reported or documented.
He said denial of welfare packages for the elderly was a form of abuse.
“About 20 per cent of the nation’s elderly are abused daily by Nigerians.
“Denial of rights of the elderly comes in different forms which include non-payment of their pensions by state and federal governments.
“Forcing women to engage in hard labour under the guise of assisting in raising grandchildren is a form of abuse.
“Lack of care from their biological children is another form of abuse and in most cases, there is no authority to report to; so these parents are made to suffer in silence,’’ said the University of Third Age boss.
He pointed out:“Many parents have turned to street beggars because lack of care and financial sustainability by their children and wards.’’
Afolabi advised children and the youth against what he called elder abuse — depriving the elderly or senior citizens of their rights physically, financially, emotionally and psychologically.
He stressed that U3A was created to make life more meaningful to retirees.
“U3A is a self-help organisation which provides unique and exciting activities for retirees that are life-enhancing and life-changing opportunities.
“Retired members of the community and semi-retired people come together to learn, not for qualifications but for self rewards.”
According to him, mortality rate in the group has reduced considerably as they are given opportunities to add more value to the development of their communities after retirement.
Afolabi disclosed that Nigeria was the first in West Africa to establish the organisation which has its headquarters in Oke Ado, Ibadan.
He urged state and federal governments to give more recognition and attention to these groups of people in terms of their health, social and welfare packages.
He added: “Some of our members go back to school to study courses like law, philosophy and other professional courses in conventional universities thereby actualising their life-time goals and ambitions.”
He called on the National Assembly to legislate on elder abuse and health insurance scheme for the elderly in the country. (NAN)