‘Government should tap into retirees’ wealth of experience’

Retirees have huge wealth of experience that governments at all levels can tap into to improve the economy and enhance the development of the country.

In line with this, Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA) called on the Federal government to create harmonized policies that will make retirees and ageing people productive in the society.

The group made the call at the first Annual African Regional Conference on Ageing which had the theme “New Consensus for Innovative Multilevel stakeholder engagement” in Abuja.

Convenener of the group, Emem Omakoro, said the conference became necessary at a time when Nigeria’s population is on the rise and the relevance of older people in the society is gradually diminishing.

“The United Nations has placed older persons at the age bracket of 60 and above which is why we want to canvass in Nigeria and Africa as stakeholders to galvanize older person and to speak on behalf of them.

“Most older persons and retiree and in Nigeria precisely have been left idle without any meaningful activity and this is why we want a policy that will ensure older people are productive in the society, as there has been a longterm narrative of stereotype, discrimination and exclusion of older people in the affairs of the country even with the experience they have gathered during their service to the country” she added.

Omakoro also said that ageing persons are regarded as burden with no economic value which is why Stakeholders have conveyed the conference to brainstorm and change the narrative and also reach out to government for speedy action.

In her remarks, wife of Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, said retirees and older people have a huge role to play in Nigerian society.

“Their wealth of experience cannot be looked which is why her office and the federal government will always look out for useful avenues to integrate ageing people so that they can keep contributing to the growth and development of the country,” he said.