Experts say Nigeria eyes aging crisis as elderly care lags

Nigeria is aging fast, but care, training, and respect for older people are lagging badly, and a room full of experts just said the quiet part out loud.

Why the concern surfaced now

• Stakeholders from medicine, academia, and traditional leadership gathered to talk about aging.
• The mood was less academic theory and more, we are unprepared, full stop.
• Absence of structured geriatric care was treated as a national blind spot.

Where the conversation happened

• The discussion took place in Ibadan.
• The event was organized by the University of Third Age Nigeria.
• The theme focused on making gerontology a real academic discipline in Africa.

Who showed up and why it mattered

• Lekan Alabi attended as a traditional voice.
• Academic weight came from Francois Vellas and Sidicd Camara.
• Leadership presence was anchored by Afolabi Israel.

The healthcare reality check

• Dr. Olamiji Ajanaku painted a blunt picture of neglect.
• Geriatric centers were described as too few for Nigeria’s aging population.
• Facilities, training, and institutional focus were all flagged as missing.

How older people are being framed

• Elders were described as ignored after years of contribution.
• Youth attitudes were called out as dismissive and short-sighted.
• Older citizens were framed as living libraries, not expired relevance.

The academic gap is being called out

• Gerontology and geriatric care were said to be largely absent from curricula.
• Teaching aging-related care was framed as just as essential as Nursing or Medicine.
• Lack of trained caregivers was tied directly to the elderly suffering.

A psychological perspective

• Oluwafemi Esan pushed back on the idea that age equals irrelevance.
• Older people were described as custodians of historical knowledge.
• Losing access to that wisdom was framed as a social loss, not just personal.

What stakeholders want next

• Gerontology is to be introduced as a distinct course of study.
• Formal training pathways for geriatric care professionals.
• A mindset shift that treats aging as a phase deserving structure and dignity.

The underlying message

• Nigeria is aging whether policy catches up or not.
• Ignoring older people was framed as both a moral and a practical failure.
• Education was positioned as the fastest lever to change outcomes.