Ageing With Dignity -By Ike Willie-Nwobu

In “For Black Children at the end of the world – and the beginning,” award-winning American Poet, Roger Reeves, writes with piercing poignancy,“ Hey, Black Child, You are the fire at the end of your elders’ weeping, fire against the blur of horse, hoof, stick, stone, several plagues including time.”

Days after the United Nations celebrated the 2024 International Day of Older Persons commemorated on October 1 annually but celebrated on October 5, this poem which poignantly mentions “elders’ weeping” and the “plague of time” acutely describes the spectre of ageing in Nigeria.

Unlike Japan whose aging population has become a source of alarm in the country, Nigeria is not known for the longevity of its people. Maybe, it is genes, but the argument that it is other factors dictating the vagaries of low life expectancy is stronger. Life expectancy in Nigeria is about 63.4 years. But in Africa’s biggest democracy and economy, there is a glut of factors that can precipitate the signing of the eternal checkout prematurely. Poor healthcare, insecurity and outrageous costs of living are just some of them.

Nigeria’s most pressing priorities may not include its senior citizens but the  vulnerability of that demographic, coupled with its validity as the country’s prime source of wisdom means they deserve to live out their last days with dignity that can only come from being treated right by a country that appreciates the gift of their longevity.

Despite the difficulty of living long in Nigeria, there are many who defy death again and again to reach ripe old age and embody the blessing that old age is.

October 1 is usually observed as International Day of Older Persons by the United Nations. The theme for this year is“ Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and support systems for Older Persons worldwide,” a theme which speaks to the need to support older persons as they live out their last days.

This support is in the form of healthcare,  social security, but especially psychosocial support which many older persons are sadly left without as they live out their last days. Often, older persons are abandoned to fend and care for themselves, a task made almost impossible by their frailty.

Time is that irresistible tear that can   rip through the most impenetrable of barriers. Even age cannot resist the hubristic passage of time. As the turn of time wears away the mind as well as the body, a battle ensues to keep the mind sharp until the end. This is where engagement comes in by way of productivity. It is so important to keep older persons  productively engaged. Productivity can be banked upon to transform their loneliness into solitude, and maintain their vitality until they draw their last breath. Productivity in older persons can thwart the tyranny of time and ensure that old age is lived with dignity. If the productivity of older persons is properly harnessed, Nigeria can win massively because experience is not some grocery to be picked off supermarket shelves.

Beyond the fog, one thing is clear, however: Nigeria’s commitment to its older persons is as fake as it is faltering. The country has shown unprecedented irresponsibility and unpredictability in caring for those who are  slowly but surely approaching the end of their lives. This has to change fast as it is becoming a social and emotional catastrophe.

In the face of surging costs of living and moral decadence among young Nigerians, it is unrealistic to leave care for older persons  to families, many of whom are simply overwhelmed or unavailable. Many older persons have been abandoned to die slowly and sadly. It is even more painful when one thinks that many of them contributed a great deal to national growth when their legs could still carry them.

Regrettably, many older persons who worked their socks off for the country in different capacities, when they still had energy in abundance, are left to their devices in old age, discarded like dirty dishrags. Many of them are forced to spend their last days in penury, finding death while chasing their pensions, or simply dying with hearts full of regret.

Nigeria needs to urgently embrace its older persons. This is urgent and cannot be left to the vagaries of politics. A country that truly believes that old age is a blessing will do everything to ensure old age is pain-free. In a country where people are afraid to die, but  life is as cheap as salt, those who aspire to reach a ripe old age must signal their intention by protecting the interests of older persons.

Ike Willie-Nwobu,

Ikewilly9@gmail.com