Strategies to Reduce Some Identified Problems of the Aging Population in Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue III, March 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Strategies to Reduce Some Identified Problems of the Aging Population in Nigeria

Atumah, Oscar N.
Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract: This exploratory paper attempted to shed light on the increasing number of the aging population and the need to finetune specific strategies that will provide a solution to some of the issues of aging as identified. As emphasis was on curbing birth rate and reducing infant mortality, the goals were accomplished and the attention should change and must focus on improving the quality of life of older adults. The case study method of Iberenta was used, and the rights, privileges, and status, which were accorded to older adults in pre-colonial Nigeria, were reviewed. Focus shifted to uncovering some strategies that among other things, will curtail poverty in old age and revive the negative attitude towards older adults; reduce the burden on family so that they can guarantee the general well-being of older persons; restore and strengthen intergenerational link; establish affordable communities with age-friendly integrated social care system that will promote healthy aging and removing the responsibilities that orphans of people with HIV impose on older people. The land was the main factor of production identified, and we argued that if the owners can relinquish the land to those in need, the cocoa production, which made the village to flourish will be rekindled. The recommended solutions are not capital intensive because there is always the tendency for the government to claim that there are no funds to tackle the issues confronting older adults. Our proposal is a win-win situation where the young, the youth, the young, and older adults can all find a reason to co-exist peacefully, a position that will see some of the problems of the aging population reduce, if not eliminated.

Keywords: Ageing, Older adults, intergenerational gap, care-givers, age-friendly environment, land, cocoa, drinking water

I. INTRODUCTION

Until recently, issues and policies concerning aging were considered as not very important to the people in Africa. The predominant theme was a way to curb the fertility rate, which was assumed to be strictly responsible for increasing the population at an alarming rate. Today, the game has changed. As life expectancy is rising, the world over so needs to care for the aging population. The campaign to stop indiscriminate mating has been somewhat successful but has led to yet another set of issues. People are living longer and must be provided with appropriate care at old age. Still, the population of young people that are required to provide the services is either not increasing or have better things to engage them and, as such, not interested in delivering care-giving to their older adults.

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