CADROP
[Centre On Ageing, Development and Rights Of Older Persons] established in 2008, is a first class non-governmental centre, which brings together individuals and institutions from policy, academia and practice to promote effective, evidence-based policy and community action on issues of ageing in Nigeria.
Why policy and community action on ageing?
Coming decades will see an exponential rise in the number of older persons (aged 60 and above) in Nigeria from currently 7.8 million 27.8 million by 2050. Their share of the total population will double from 5% to 10%. At the same time broad socio-cultural changes, rural-urban migration of the young, and the pervasive economic strain in Nigeria are weakening extended family support systems that would normally have provided protection for older persons. These processes carry profound implications and challenges for societal responses to ensure the well-being of the older population.
Key international instruments, in particular the United Nations Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), and the African Union Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing (AU-Plan) call on governments and civil society to forge policies and programmes on older persons as part of mainstream development efforts. Such responses are required to realize older persons’ fundamental rights and to ensure equity amongst various age groups in the access to society’s resources and responsibilities.