Nigeria has kicked off Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA) certification in the geriatric social care skills sector which may lead to the training of over 36,000 experts.

The scheme, which kicked off, yesterday, in Abuja, apart from providing standardised healthcare and support system for over 1.2 million older citizens in need of critical care and another two million senior citizens with acute care, could also provide leeway for skill export from Nigeria for the global community.

Director General of the National Senior Citizen Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, said the move was aimed at enhancing the quality of care provided to Nigeria’s elderly population, noting that the programme focused on the certification of training providers as Quality Assurance Assessors, in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Omokaro said specialised skills in elderly care remained sacrosanct, noting that the training was vital for ensuring that caregivers Could meet the specific needs of older persons.

“Caregiving is not just a task that can be done anyhow; it requires skill, and for that skill to be acquired, proper training is essential,” she stated.

ALSO, at a Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards 2024 held in Abuja, yesterday, Omokaro emphasised the need not to discriminate against the elderly, but to extend hands of fellowship to them by catering to their emotional and physical well-being.

She said: “Ageing is what everybody prays for. It is a celebration. However, there is a very pessimistic attitude about older persons. They are seen as a distraction. This is because there is a wrong perception that the aging population has nothing to give back. So, when opportunities occur in humanitarian delivery efforts, maybe due to limitations in funding, you find a situation where the issue becomes, which demography should be considered. Of course, once that question is brought up, older persons may be overlooked.

“It is believed that when you invest in older persons, you have nothing to gain. Many believe it is a waste because they have nothing to contribute. We are working to change that narrative. But I want to start by saying you cannot find a typical older person. The population of older persons is as diverse as you can imagine. On the one hand, you have older persons, who are full of vigour and can live independently and with autonomy. They are still heads of their families and have continued to invest in their communities.”

Among the award recipients at the event were the Chairman, Wells Carlton Hotels & Apartments, Abuja, and Founder of the Osa Okunbo Foundation, Osahon Okunbo, his late father, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, Arthur Eze, Borno state Governor, Babagana Zulum, River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Okunbo said investing in people was really what people were created to do, especially if God blessed them.

He said being humane was God’s task to humanity on earth and people should not just live for themselves but for others.