Rights advocates urge stronger legal protections and national awareness against elder abuse in Nigeria
By A1NEWS International / May 20, 2026
ABUJA —The President of the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN), Dr Eze Ajoku, has declared that older persons are not liabilities but custodians of wisdom, leadership, sacrifice, and cultural heritage whose rights must be protected and respected.
Ajoku made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja during a training programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission for its staff members as defenders and advocates in combating elder abuse in Nigeria.
Nigeria Facing Demographic Shift
Speaking at the event, Ajoku said Nigeria was witnessing significant demographic changes as more citizens now live longer due to advancements in medicine, healthcare, and public awareness.
He, however, warned that systems designed to protect and care for older persons were not evolving at the same pace as the country’s growing elderly population.
“In many communities today, older persons who once commanded honour are now suffering quietly,” he said.
“As a nation, we must understand that older persons are not liabilities. They are custodians of wisdom, memory, sacrifice, faith, leadership, and culture.”
Poverty, Family Breakdown Fuel Elder Abuse
Ajoku identified poverty, economic hardship, urban migration, weak legal enforcement, and the erosion of family values as major drivers of elder abuse in Nigeria.
He also cited the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and harmful cultural practices as contributing factors worsening the plight of older persons across communities.
According to him, rapid societal changes have exposed gaps in the nation’s protection systems.
“Modern society is changing rapidly, but protection systems are not changing fast enough,” he stated.
“A society that neglects its older persons is a society that forgets its own future.”
The COSROPIN president defined elder abuse as any action — or failure to act — that harms an older person physically, emotionally, socially, or financially.
He urged the NHRC to intensify investigations into cases involving older persons and embark on nationwide awareness campaigns to protect their rights and dignity.
NHRC Raises Concern Over Rising Elder Abuse
Earlier in his address, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, represented by the Director of the Vulnerable Groups Department, Dahiru Bobbo, said the increasing population of older persons in Nigeria demands urgent national attention.
Ojukwu described the training as timely and necessary, noting that elder abuse had become a growing concern both in Nigeria and globally.
According to him, abuses against older persons range from physical violence and psychological abuse to financial exploitation, neglect, and harmful traditional practices.
“While increased life expectancy reflects progress in healthcare, it also brings critical challenges that society must address,” he said.
“As a national institution, the Commission is mandated to promote, protect, and enforce the human rights of all persons without discrimination. Older persons are not exceptions.”
Training Aimed at Strengthening Human Rights Protection
Ojukwu explained that the training programme was designed to equip NHRC staff members with the skills and tools needed to identify, document, investigate, and advocate against elder abuse.
He added that the initiative would deepen participants’ understanding of older persons’ rights under national, regional, and international human rights frameworks.
The NHRC boss stressed that defending the rights of vulnerable persons goes beyond professional responsibility.
“It is a commitment to justice, empathy, and courage,” he said.
“As frontline officers of the Commission, you play a pivotal role in ensuring that the voices of older persons are heard, their grievances addressed, and their dignity upheld.”
He further stated that the objectives of the training included enhancing staff capacity, strengthening advocacy skills, and promoting a rights-based approach in all interventions concerning older persons.
The training underscored growing concerns over the treatment of older persons in Nigeria amid rising economic pressures and weakening social support structures. Stakeholders at the event called for stronger legal protections, improved welfare policies, and increased public awareness to combat elder abuse and safeguard the dignity of Nigeria’s ageing population.
![Nigerian military prepares to cordon the area where a man was killed by suspected rebel fighters during an attack around the Polo area of Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2019 [File: Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](https://a1news.com.ng/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Nigeria-military-on-patrol.webp)
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