The Time for Action Is Now (Part Three)
By Nze Emmanuel Ehirim | Guest Writer
Throughout this series, we have examined why thousands of elderly Nigerians remain abroad long after retirement, not because they no longer love their homeland, but because many fear losing access to reliable healthcare, social support and the dignity that comes with growing old in a society that values its senior citizens.
We have also explored how Imo State could become the first state in Nigeria to build a modern adult social care system capable of supporting older people, vulnerable adults and families facing the growing challenges of ageing.
The question is no longer whether Nigeria needs such a system.
The question is whether we are prepared to build one.
Investing in People, Not Just Infrastructure
Across Nigeria, billions of naira are invested every year in roads, bridges, schools and public buildings. These investments remain essential for economic growth and national development.
However, a compassionate society is measured not only by the infrastructure it builds but also by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.
A modern adult social care system should therefore be viewed as a long-term investment rather than an expense. Preventive care delivered within communities can reduce avoidable hospital admissions, shorten recovery periods, ease pressure on tertiary hospitals and improve the overall quality of life for older adults.
In the long run, helping elderly citizens remain healthy and independent is often more cost-effective than responding only after medical emergencies arise.
Strengthening Families Through Professional Support
Family remains the cornerstone of elderly care in Nigeria, and no public system should seek to replace it.
Instead, government policies should strengthen families by providing professional support where it is most needed.
Home care services, respite care for family caregivers, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, mental health support and regular community visits can greatly reduce the physical, emotional and financial burden many families currently shoulder alone.
When families receive support, elderly people are more likely to remain safely in their homes, surrounded by loved ones and familiar communities.
Technology Can Transform Elderly Care
Nigeria’s growing digital economy also presents new opportunities.
Telemedicine, electronic health records, remote consultations and wearable health-monitoring devices can help healthcare professionals monitor elderly patients without requiring frequent hospital visits.
Simple mobile applications could enable community health workers to report concerns quickly, coordinate home visits and connect isolated elderly residents with healthcare providers and emergency services.
By embracing technology, Nigeria can build a more efficient and accessible care system that reaches both urban and rural communities.
Learning From Successful Models
Many countries have faced similar demographic changes and have developed systems that combine healthcare with social support.
While Nigeria should not copy foreign models wholesale, there is much to learn from countries that have invested in community-based care, professional social work, rehabilitation services and healthy ageing programmes.
Any Nigerian model must reflect our own culture, traditions and strong family values while incorporating international best practices that have been proven to improve lives.
A Call for National Leadership
The responsibility for reform does not rest with government alone.
Universities should develop specialised training programmes for professionals in gerontology, adult social work and geriatric medicine.
Teaching hospitals should expand research into ageing and age-related diseases.
Professional bodies should advocate for improved standards of elderly care.
Faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, community associations, philanthropists and the private sector all have important roles to play in creating communities where older citizens are respected, protected and supported.
Above all, policymakers at both state and federal levels should begin work on a comprehensive National Adult Social Care Policy that clearly defines standards, responsibilities, funding mechanisms and long-term objectives.
The Legacy We Leave Behind
Every Nigerian hopes to grow old.
The quality of life we create for today’s elderly will ultimately become the quality of life available to future generations—including ourselves.
The true measure of any society is not found only in its economic statistics or physical infrastructure. It is reflected in how it treats those who spent decades building the nation.
Nigeria has reached a defining moment.
We can continue relying on overstretched families to shoulder the burden alone, or we can build a modern adult social care system that protects dignity, promotes independence and allows every Nigerian to age with confidence.
If Imo State chooses to lead this transformation, history may well remember it as the birthplace of Nigeria’s adult social care revolution.
The time to begin is now.
(End of Series)
About the Author
Nze Emmanuel Ehirim is a UK-based Nigerian health and social care professional, researcher and public affairs commentator with extensive experience in adult social care, safeguarding, community healthcare and public policy.
He writes on governance, healthcare reform, ageing, social welfare, leadership and national development, with a particular interest in adapting global best practices to address Nigeria’s unique social and institutional challenges.
His commentaries seek to stimulate informed public discourse and offer practical, evidence-based solutions to policy challenges affecting vulnerable populations and sustainable national development.
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