…Senior Citizens leader (Elder Nwaka) recommends life jail for Abuse of Elders

Abia State Governor’s wife Priscilla Otti during the state commemoration of the 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) yesterday decried abuse of Elders in the society, lamenting that they are, instead of being appreciated and rewarded for their hardwork, sacrifice and perseverance, isolated, neglected and not comforted.

Coordinator of the State Elders Centre Elder Dr Otti Nwaka recommended life jail for Elders Abuse, stating that the abuse is everywhere and in many forms and ways.

Mrs Otti, represented by the state Deputy Governor’s wife Adaeze Chidera Emetu, said that the 2026 WEAAD commemoration themed ” Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work” was to remind and sensitize the public that the strength of any society is not measured only by its economic achievements or physical infrastructure, but also by how the society treats those who can no longer compete for attention, influence, or opportunity.

According to Mrs Otti
this wareness has helped not only to understand the problem, but encourage conversations that were once avoided and challenged harmful attitudes that many people accepted as normal.

She however argued that awareness on its own does not protect elderly women or men whose property has been taken away from them, or comfort an elderly man abandoned because he is no longer economically productive, and also does not prevent loneliness, neglect, or exploitation.

Real progress she stated , begins when awareness is translated into action, when families choose compassion over convenience, and when neighbors refuse to ignore abuse.

She classed elder people as men and women who spent the greater part of their lives building families, nurturing communities, and contributing to the development the young ones enjoy today, describing ‘Growing Old’ as one journey that all hope to make.

An elder in the state Mazi Dr Otti Nwaka who is the Coordinator/Facilitator, Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, on behalf of the State Senior Citizens Centre, commended the state government for commemorating the 2026; WEAAD on its chosen August 5, date and by so doing ” stand in solidarity with our seniors, to raise our voices, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to dignity, respect, and protection for our elders”

He said that this year’s theme reminds that elder abuse in any form — physical, emotional, financial, or neglect, should have no place in our society.

Pointing out that hence our elders are the custodians of their culture, wisdom, and history, he stated that to abuse or neglect them would amount to denying their own future.

Noteworthily, he recalled that Abia State, is blessed to have strong legal backing by the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017, which he said was domesticated here as Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of Abia State, which said provides a solid foundation for the protection of the rights and welfare of our senior citizens.

He added that to give life to this law, there is also in place a Policy Framework that serves as a strong instrument to educate communities, prevent elders abuse, and ensure that they e have access to healthcare, social support, and justice.

” So through this framework, we are taking awareness to the grassroots, to families, villages, churches, and markets, so that every Abian understands that protecting our elders is protecting our values” , and used this opportunity to sincerely thank the state governor Dr Alex Otti, for his commitment to inclusive governance.

While he urged all Senior Citizens in the state to register with the Centre to avail themselves of the services there available, he expressed worry that elders are abused everywhere in many ways, recommending that life jail should be imposed on convicted culprits.

The state Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix said that
in commomerating the day, we make a pledge to speak up against abuse, check on our elders, towards building communities where growing old is honored, and not feared stressing that ” to honor our elders is to honor our future”.

She added that the Day was also set aside to celebrate and honor the sacrifices and important roles of Elderly people who by virtue of their dedication and commitment positively impacted the society.

In his Keynote address , the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor beconed on all levels of Government , organizations, good spirited individuals across the society to support what he called institutional capacity framework that has the capacity of addressing the elderly people’s plight, stressing that adulthood should go with respect, dignity, care, including protection.