The Amaka-Chiwuike Uba Foundation (ACUF) Initiative for Policy and Governance, an NGO, has criticised the sidelining of the elderly in social engagements and welfare, resulting in a drop in the dignity of senior citizens.
The Chairman of ACUF, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, said this in a statement on Saturday in Enugu, which he titled: “The Abishag Strategy: Managing Decline Instead of Building Strength.” He noted that there is a moment in one’s life when social power or influence as well as physical strength begins to fade.
“Socially, the message cuts even deeper. Nigeria, like many societies, celebrates strength and visibility. We honour those who are productive, powerful, and relevant. But when strength fades, attention fades with it. The elderly are often sidelined. Retired leaders become afterthoughts in most facets of life, especially in social engagements and welfare.
“Institutions forget their founders and former pillars as quickly as they replace them,” he said. Uba, who is a Professor of Economics, noted that a person’s dignity and social welfare must not be tied to usefulness alone.
According to him, a society that cannot honour its vulnerable cannot sustain its strong. He lamented that when one is weak – elderly or retired- most times those around them start positioning themselves in a quiet and subtle struggle for the person’s position, wealth, and resources. The don called for the setting up of viable social institutions and agencies that would protect the elderly and ensure their welfare is constantly met.
