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Foundations seek support for the elderly, PWDs

By Kehinde Olatunji and Silver Nwokoro
26 October 2017   |   4:12 am
The first Nigerian to bag a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Prof. Sophie Oluwole, has task the government to provide policies that would cater to the needs of senior citizens in the country.

The first Nigerian to bag a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Prof. Sophie Oluwole, has task the government to provide policies that would cater to the needs of senior citizens in the country.

Oluwole, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Centre for African Culture and Development, made this known during the recent celebration of the International Day for Older Persons in Lagos, lamenting that the reasons for the abysmal situation in the country is because respects are not given to those that are due. “If you want to become an elder, you have to respect the elderly. Our government does not consider the elders at all in their policies,” she said.

Executive Director of the foundation, Toun Giwa, said: “We believe that the local government is the tier of government that can make the fastest difference to the life of an elderly as it is closest to the grassroots. It should provide creature comforts as well as pave way for the removal of social isolation.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called on the Lagos State government to conduct an audit of all public toilet facilities to ensure its accessibility to Persons With Disabilities (PWD).

The executive director of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, said the need to improve sanitary facilities for PWDs in the state is not negotiable. He further urged operators of public toilets to ensure persons with disabilities have unhindered access to public toilets.

“Nigeria Disability Bill 2016 pending before the National Assembly, states that no public building shall be constructed without the necessary accessibility aids such as lift, ramps and others that shall make them accessible and usable to PWDs.”

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