Senior citizens centre moves to secure funding for initiatives

National Senior Citizens Centre, (NSCC), has signed an agreement with Policy House International, to secure donor and multi-lateral funding for its programmes and initiative.

Director General, NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokar, said that the agency is inadequately funded this unable to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate of identify the needs of senior citizens and cater for them in line with the National Senior Citizens Center Act 2017.

She stated this at the agreement signing ceremony in Abuja, weekend.

Dr. Omomkaro noted that no matter how potentially impactful their Plan of Action is, adequate funding is required to implement planned programs.

A statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs, Media and Communucation, Omini Oden,the DG said she remains hopeful that the agreement’s objective will be realized as the NSCC will accelerate the cascading of programs to the sub-national levels, particularly the rural areas, where 70% of older persons reside.

DG said “Policy House is now a part of the vision of NSCC of truly making Nigeria an inclusive society where older people have the right to a life that is dignified, happy, secured and have the opportunity to continue to participate and be valued”.

According to her, NSCC looks beyond government funding to realize set targets and its mandate geared towards improving the quality life of older persons and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current dispensation under President Bola Tinubu.

Executive Director of Policy House International, Taiwo Akerele, commended the level of passion, knowledge, depth of impactful sector-wide approach to programming, seen at the NSCC

He said said, “There is emplace at NSCC established systems mechanisms of engagement with stakeholders including older persons and dis-aggregated data on subject matter of programs interest despite the agency’s in less than three years of existence.”

He assured that Policy House will bring to bear it’s 15 years experience working with the public sector in Nigeria and that they will abide by the terms of the agreement reached with the NSCC.