The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has decried the abuse, neglect and isolation of elderly people in society, saying many seniors are not adequately appreciated for their years of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance.

Mrs Otti spoke during the state commemoration of the 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), held on Wednesday, August 5, with the theme, “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work.”

Represented at the event by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adaeze Chidera Emetu, the governor’s wife said the commemoration was aimed at reminding and sensitising the public to the need to protect elderly persons.

She noted that the strength of any society should not be measured only by its economic achievements or physical infrastructure, but also by how it treats people who may no longer be able to compete for attention, influence or opportunities.

According to her, increased awareness of elder abuse has helped society better understand the problem, encouraged conversations that were previously avoided and challenged harmful attitudes that had been accepted as normal.

Mrs Otti, however, stressed that awareness alone was not enough to protect elderly men and women whose properties had been taken from them or to comfort those abandoned because they were no longer economically productive.

She added that awareness by itself could not prevent loneliness, neglect or exploitation.

“Real progress begins when awareness is translated into action, when families choose compassion over convenience, and when neighbours refuse to ignore abuse,” she said.

Mrs Otti described elderly people as men and women who had spent much of their lives building families, nurturing communities and contributing to the development enjoyed by younger generations.

She also described growing old as a journey that everyone hopes to undertake.

Speaking on behalf of the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, the Coordinator/Facilitator of the Centre, Mazi Dr Otti Nwaka, commended the state government for commemorating the 2026 WEAAD on August 5.

He said the event provided an opportunity to stand in solidarity with senior citizens, raise awareness and reaffirm the collective commitment to protecting their dignity, rights and welfare.

Nwaka said the year's theme was a reminder that elder abuse in all its forms, including physical, emotional and financial abuse as well as neglect, should have no place in society.

He described elders as custodians of culture, wisdom and history, warning that abusing or neglecting them amounted to denying society its own future.

Nwaka also highlighted the legal framework supporting the protection of senior citizens in Abia State. He noted that the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017 had been domesticated in the state as the Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of Abia State, providing a legal foundation for protecting the rights and welfare of senior citizens.

He added that a Policy Framework was also in place to strengthen the implementation of the law by educating communities, preventing elder abuse and ensuring that senior citizens have access to healthcare, social support and justice.

“So through this framework, we are taking awareness to the grassroots, to families, villages, churches, and markets, so that every Abian understands that protecting our elders is protecting our values,” he said.

Nwaka used the occasion to commend Governor Alex Otti for his commitment to inclusive governance and urged senior citizens across the state to register with the Senior Citizens Centre to benefit from the services available to them.

Expressing concern over the prevalence of elder abuse, he said seniors were abused in different ways and in various settings. He therefore recommended life imprisonment for persons convicted of abusing elderly people.

The Commissioner for Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, said the commemoration provided an opportunity for residents to pledge their commitment to speaking out against elder abuse and checking on elderly people.

She called for the creation of communities where growing old is honoured rather than feared, stressing that “to honour our elders is to honour our future.”

Felix added that the day also provided an opportunity to celebrate and honour the sacrifices and important contributions of elderly people whose dedication and commitment had positively impacted society.

In his keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, called on all levels of government, organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the development of an institutional capacity framework capable of addressing the challenges facing elderly people.

He stressed that old age should come with respect, dignity, care and protection.