Poverty and Old Age: The Nigerian Situation
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Network For Health, Education and Welfare of Special People, I bada , Ibadan.
Abstract
Description
The challenge facing the elderly in Nigeria is one that
has been very persistent. One notable variable that has
been used in describing the elderly is that of persistent
and excruciating levels of poverty. Nigeria has often been
described as a rich nation inhabited by poor people, to
which the majority of the aged belong. Indeed, the poverty
situation of the elderly, whether in relative or absolute
terms, is quite disturbing. The inability of government to
cope with the regular payment of pensions to the retired
workforce, the inadequate social services and health
facilities to cater for the needs of an ageing population,
as well as a predominantly rural agrarian population all
pose new threats to food security, social security and
national security of Nigeria. Older people's lives are
characterized by growing inadequacies in customary
family supports, social exclusion and non-existent social
security targeted at them, thus being very vulnerable to
poverty and diseases. This paper therefore takes an
exploratory look at the debilitating situation of the
interplay between poverty and old age and tries to proffer
solutions that will act as suitable intervention strategies
towards amelioration the poverty situation of the elderly,
majority of whom live like beggars' in the cities and
various rural settlements.
Keywords
B Philosophy (General), BF Psychology