Touch of Love & Lifting Hands Foundation, an NGO on Tuesday evening renewed calls on all tiers of government and Nigerians to pay more attention to the well-being of old people.
The CEO/founder of the NGO, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, made the call at an Eid-El-Fitr party for the elderly and less privileged at its secretariat in Iju Ishaga in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Old people and the less privileged amidst music and dancing made merry with games as side attractions while winning and dining.
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Some of the old people expressed joy and commended the NGO for the annual event which helped them to interact and share joy.
A septuagenarian, Mrs Christiana Oloko and Mrs Carolina Adesunloye, a sexagenarian widow both expressed joy for the annual event which gave them opportunity to unwind and celebrate.
Mr Amidu Adeleye, another sexagenarian who is also a member of the All Progressive Congress in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government commended the program, saying “this annual celebration is good for relaxation”.
“This programme is for the elderly citizens but a lot of people in this community joined the celebration here today and we are all happy. We pray to God to bless the organizers,” he said.
Responding, CEO/founder, of the NGO, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi said the NGO was meant to provide succor and hope to the vulnerable, widows and aged people in the society through interactions.
She said the feast was to celebrate with Muslim faithfuls in commemoration of the breaking of the Ramadan fasting which ended on Monday.
“During the fasting we gathered them and gave them food stuff. Now we are in the Sallah mood that is why we have gathered so that we eat, dance and feast together and spread joy and happiness,” she said.
Owolabi an award winning engineer and philanthropist said the occasion helped old people “to interact, play games, watch television, relax and eat to make them have a huge sense of belonging in the society”.
She said that the annual event had been impactful and appealed to all tiers of government, the private sector and wealthy Nigerians to support genuine NGOs dedicated to the welfare of elders like hers.
Owolabi said old people had given the productive parts of their early lives and years to nation building and should not be neglected when they are old and weak.
She added that care for the elderly attracted divine blessings hence the need for all tiers of government to formulate policies that targeted their well-being.
