The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has taken a significant step towards bridging Nigeria’s intergenerational gap by launching a learning and youth mentoring platform.
The initiative was unveiled on Saturday – yesterday, March 8 – in Calabar during the 130th anniversary celebration of the Hope Waddell Training Institute, where 50 alumni of the institution were also decorated as NSCC envoys.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSCC, a Federal Government agency established under the NSCC Act 2017 and inaugurated in 2021, is mandated to identify and address the challenges of older persons while promoting their well-being.
Speaking at the investiture, the Director-General of NSCC, Dr Emem Omokaro, emphasised the importance of partnering with the alumni as distinguished representatives to share knowledge and experience.
Omokaro was represented by Mr Omini Oden, Head of Corporate Affairs, Media, and Communications at NSCC.
He highlighted that the mentorship initiative would foster connections across generations, inspiring and empowering young people.
“Sharing life lessons and wisdom with youths while learning new perspectives and technological skills creates a mutually beneficial exchange,” she noted.
“As we launch this initiative today, NSCC is honoured to have 50 elder statesmen invested with distinguished envoy pins to help ignite this vision,” she added.
“This initiative aligns with the theme of Hope Waddell Institution’s 130th anniversary: “Glorious Heritage Inspiring the Future,”she said.
President of Hope Waddell Old Students Association (HWOSA), Efio-Ita Ephraim, urged the 50 alumni to be prepared to work, adding that to whom much was given much was expected.
“You have been selected because we believe that you have experience to pass to the younger generation.
“I pray that when the time comes you will have the time, energy and resources to do the work,” he noted.
On his part, the National Coordinator of NSCC, Mr Ekpe Ita, called on the 50 alumni to not only use their new designation to serve the society but also continue to contribute to their alma mater
Ita, also an alumnus of the o institution,
appealed to the 50 decorated alumni to put their hands on deck to pilot the scheme, noting that theirs is a significant assignment, indeed.
