Group holds symposium for senior citizens in Lagos

Every October 1 is known as Nigeria’s Independence Day, but it is also the International Day of Older Persons, a day dedicated by the United Nations (UN) for commemorating and drawing attention to the contributions, achievements and significance of older persons to societies.

Towards the day’s celebration, the Initiative for Green Sustainability (INGRES), which create awareness toward the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, will hold a symposium to bring together senior citizens at the Blue Roof, LTV premises, Ikeja, Lagos, “to discourage the ugly paradigm shift of age discrimination, neglect and abuse of older persons, which is becoming a social norm.

“We recognise that ageism is a reality in some form in all societies, and it is speedily finding expression in individuals’ attitudes, institution and policy practices, as well as in media representation that devalue and exclude older persons,” the group stated.

The theme of the 2018 commemoration is ‘Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions“. To commemorate the day, INGRES will hold a three-day symposium to raise the visibility of older persons in Lagos.

It would hold from October 4 to 6, at Blue Roof LTV, Ikeja, from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. daily. Participants are strictly from 60 years and above.