First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged Nigerians to show compassion to older people in their families and communities to help prolong their lives.

Mr Tinubu made the call during the inauguration of the ‘’Arise Senior Citizens Centre,’’ along the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road on Saturday.

The centre is designed to provide support to senior citizens, offering services such as healthcare, recreation, and social interaction.

The first lady expressed delight in Governor Umo Eno for constructing the centre and supporting senior citizens in the state.

She acknowledged that the project aligned with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which ensured that ‘’no Nigerian is left behind, especially the elderly.”

“We have to really have compassion for the elderly; old age can be a very lonely period, especially when a spouse is gone. They have emptiness; the children have been trained and have to go their ways.

‘’It can be a very lonely time. This centre you have built will keep them to live longer,” Mrs Tinubu said.

The president’s wife urged other state governors to replicate the senior citizens’ centre in their states to care for older people.

Mrs Tinubu reiterated that she had proposed special economic support for older people when she was in the Senate, but it did not come to fruition.

She called on the current Senate to revisit the bill that would provide stipends to older people, stressing that they have given much to society during their lifetimes.

Mrs Tinubu expressed displeasure at seeing elderly citizens being abandoned and uncared for.

“Ageing should not mean isolation or neglect but comfort, respect and continued engagement with society,” Mrs Tinubu said.

Earlier, Mr Eno said the project was conceived by his late wife, Patience Eno, out of her love and compassion for older adults.

The governor said his administration had been paying monthly stipends of N50,000 to 600 older people across the state’s 369 wards.

He assured that his administration would not relent in providing basic healthcare to senior citizens in the state.

(NAN)