Breaking News
NOA Urges Nigerians to Show Empathy to Elderly as World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 Kicks Off
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to show love and care for elderly people living with dementia as World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 begins in Abuja, with awareness walks, free health checks, and campaigns against stigma.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to demonstrate greater empathy and compassion toward elderly citizens living with dementia, as activities marking the 2025 World Alzheimer’s Day began in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The Agency, in collaboration with NAIDCARE, the FCT Social Development Secretariat, and several NGOs, on Monday led an awareness walk through major Abuja streets to highlight the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and fight stigma around dementia.
The programme also featured interactive board games with elderly participants, as well as free health checks including blood pressure, blood sugar, and eye tests.
Speaking at the event held at the AMAC Secretariat, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Isa Onilu — represented by Dr. Ayoola Abiodun Olufemi, Director of Health and Social Care — reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to nationwide sensitisation. He decried the continued stigmatisation of elderly Nigerians showing dementia symptoms, noting that some are still wrongly branded as victims of witchcraft.
“Alzheimer’s is not a curse, it is not witchcraft; it is a medical condition that affects the brain. Our responsibility as families and as a society is to show patience, love, and care. They cared for us yesterday — today, we must care for them,” Onilu stressed.
NGO representatives at the event urged government and stakeholders to establish more memory clinics, expand caregiver support, and integrate dementia care into Nigeria’s health insurance scheme.
During the campaign, NOA distributed sensitisation materials and pledged to mobilise its state and local offices to spread the awareness to rural communities, where misconceptions about dementia remain most prevalent.
Onilu linked the exercise to the National Values Charter, which emphasises duty of care, respect for elders, and protection of the vulnerable.
“What we are doing today goes beyond health awareness. It is about reminding Nigerians that caring for our elders is not optional — it is a national value, a duty of care, and a mark of the society we want to build,” he added.
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed globally every September 21 to raise awareness of dementia, support affected families, and promote improved care for the elderly.
Opinion Nigeria News
Fayose’s Thank You Message To Obasanjo: Uncouth, Unthinking And UnAfrican -By Isaac Asabor
Obasanjo, for his part, responded with a pointed but dignified jab, thanking Fayose for revealing his true nature and promptly...
Why Nigeria Must Act Now or Face the Consequences: The Wake-Up Call of the U.S. Religious Freedom Accountability Bill 2025 -By James Ezema
And to the Nigerian people—Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists alike—this moment demands unity, not division. Petition your lawmakers, demand justice, and...
Africa’s Mining Industry: New Opportunities for Cooperation with Russia and China -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
The Chinese delegation played a significant role in the event. Participants included Sun Yongjun, First Secretary of the Embassy of...
The Yerima Effect: How A Naval Officer’s Stillness Destroyed Wike’s Political Weapons, Collapsed His Judicial Shield, And Taught A Young Democracy To Stop Fearing Strong Men -By Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi
The Ministry of Defence publicly defended the officer, not Wike. They stated clearly that Yerima acted within lawful authority. That...
Aso Rock and Kitoye Ajasa’s Lickspittle Press -By Festus Adedayo
To demonstrate their opprobrium for Ajasa’s leaflet, the Nigerian Pioneer newspaper, the people scoffed at it on the newsstand. To Ajasa’s contemporaries, his...