The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (MFCT), Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai has expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with well-meaning Nigerians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to alleviate the problems facing the senior citizens of the country.
The FCT minister, represented by the chief of staff in the ministry, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the closing ceremony of a 4-day training workshop for the elderly in the Federal Capital Territory in livestock production organised by the Social Development Secretariat yesterday further appealed to various sections of the country to assist in providing a new lease of life to elders in the country who had served the nation in their productive age.
Mallam el-Rufai, while commending the organisers of the workshop also noted that, “it is very important because of its relevance to the present administration’s disposition of carrying every section of the society along in our endeavour to build a virile capital city and a place of pride for all.” Mallam el-Rufai expressed the hope that participants would build up their capacity for entrepreneurship and self-sustenance.
In her address, the executive secretary of the social development secretariat, FCT, Ms Bolanle Ayodele Onagoruwa said the international day for the aged is a day set aside by the United Nations to recognise the important roles of the elderly as well as bringing into focus their problems with a view to proffering solutions to them.
Ms Onagoruwa further declared that the social development secretariat has in pipeline lots of programmes that would improve the life of residents of the capital territory as well as empowering them for economic development. She urged beneficiaries of the training to reciprocate government’s gesture by translating knowledge gained into concrete action, which will boost livestock production in Abuja.
Senior citizens, she noted should not relent in inculcating in younger ones the virtues of hard work, self-discipline and service to the nation and urged beneficiaries to form cooperative groups in their various area councils for easy access to funds to boost their businesses and pledged her ministry’s readiness to be of help to them when the time arises.
Earlier in her address, the assistant director, social welfare, Mrs. Nita P. Laubakta said the FCT social welfare division packaged the training workshop for the 34 elderly drawn from the six area councils in the capital territory to promote, “longevity through improved diet, reduction in boredom or loneliness as well as empower them for economic self-relevance through livestock production.”
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