A Professor of Social Gerontology, Gender and Development Studies at Lagos State University, Olanrewaju Ajiboye, has raised the alarm that about 25 million elderly Nigerians are at risk of inadequate support and of living in poverty by 2050.
Ajiboye noted this while delivering his inaugural lecture, titled “That We May Age Gracefully: A Social Gerontologist’s X-ray of Later Life”, at the university on Tuesday.
The professor noted that although population ageing was a global phenomenon, developing countries like Nigeria were experiencing the fastest growth, often without the institutional structures required to support older citizens.
Citing global data, he explained that the number of older persons in developing regions grew significantly between 2000 and 2015 and would continue to increase sharply in the coming years.
Ajiboye added that Nigeria currently has over 14.8 million people aged 60 and above, representing about five per cent of the population, a figure expected to surge in the coming decades.
He decried the country’s unpreparedness for the fast-growing ageing population.
Ajiboye said, “By 2050, Nigeria’s population of older persons is projected to rise to about 25 million, yet the majority of them already lack adequate support and face mass poverty.”
According to him, “Soaring inflation, particularly food inflation, and weak economic growth have eroded the purchasing power of older persons, further exacerbating their vulnerability.”
He said Nigeria’s older population was rising rapidly without corresponding social protection systems, leaving many vulnerable to economic hardship and neglect.
He attributed the worsening conditions of older Nigerians to widespread poverty, weak social security systems, and the gradual breakdown of the traditional extended family structure.
“Ageing in Nigeria is occurring against the background of socioeconomic hardship, widespread poverty, and rapid transformation of the traditional family system that once catered for older persons,” he said.
The professor cited findings from the World Bank indicating that over 139 million Nigerians currently live in poverty, with older persons among the most affected groups.
He also noted that rural elderly populations were disproportionately affected, with poverty rates significantly higher than in urban areas.
Ajiboye lamented that many elderly Nigerians now rely on petty trading or begging for survival due to the collapse of family-based support systems and the absence of formal welfare structures.
“Unfortunately, the traditional reliance on extended family support is becoming ineffective, leaving many older individuals with no formal welfare,” he said.
Speaking on migration patterns, the don explained that rural-urban migration had further weakened family support networks, as younger family members move to cities in search of better opportunities, leaving older relatives behind.
“This phenomenon has created a ‘filial crisis’, where adult children are unable to provide adequate financial and emotional support to their ageing parents,” he added.
Ajiboye, however, noted that despite economic challenges, some families still provide both financial and non-financial support to older relatives, although such assistance is often inadequate.
On solutions, he called for urgent government intervention, including the development of comprehensive social protection policies targeted at older persons.
“The failure of governments to respond promptly to the challenges of population ageing will lead to serious consequences for national development,” he warned.
He urged stakeholders, including families, communities, and non-governmental organisations, to play active roles in ensuring the welfare of older persons.
“Supporting older persons to age gracefully requires a multifaceted approach involving individuals, families, communities, and government,” he said.
Ajiboye also emphasised the need for improved healthcare, social inclusion, and economic support systems to enhance the quality of life of elderly Nigerians.
He added, “Growing old should not be a period of suffering or neglect. With the right policies and support systems, it can be a fulfilling and dignified stage of life.”
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