• Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria

Brief Report on the First National General Assembly Meeting/Election of COSROPIN's NEC Officers

President's Welcome Address

Welcome Address presented by the President of COSROPIN, Senator Dr. Eze Ajoku on the occasion of the 1st National General Assembly Meeting of all Registered and financially up to date members of COSROPIN on – 14th September 2021 at GRAF Hall, 10 Lingu Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

It gives me great joy as the founding president of our organisation to welcome all registered members of COSROPIN to this first members gathering called general assembly of the Coalition of Society for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN). Personally, it is a dream come true To Know that each of you is here today from all the states of Nigeria, because of your commitment, passion and hope for a better life for Nigerian Older Persons welfare, wellbeing and dignity which is worthy of very high commendation. Please let us clap for ourselves.

Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of COSROPIN to welcome all our members across the 6 zones and states of the Federation. This being our first National General Assembly, it is a pleasure to see you all who have laboured with us in the last 6 years in pursuit of the welfare, well-being, dignity and protection of the Rights and Priviledges of Nigerian Older Persons/Senior Citizens. We also welcome the distinguished members of the 4th Estate –of the Realm, the gentlemen of the Press. Whereas in 2018 and 2019 we had our National Conferences on Ageing in Abuja which were well attended by Governments officials, Senior Citizens’ across the Nation, NGOs/CSOs working on Ageing and International Organisations, with Speakers drawn from different states of the Federation. This is our first in house national meeting as a Coalition. On paper we have many more members but those of you here (over 54) are those who are financial members who have paid their dues. Therefore, we congratulate you all for your commitment and dedication to the cause of this Coalition. I am sure some of you have wondered how did this begin. So allow me to take us back to the formation of this Coalition... Read More

HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Goodwill messages were received from the Director General, National Senior Citizens’ Centre, Director General, National Orientation Agency, Director, Special Control Unit Against Money Laundry, (SCMUL) and Director, Federal Inland Revenue Service, which promised continued collaboration the Coalition.

SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF COSROPIN:
  1. Succeeded in being the voice of Ageing in Nigeria and has put Ageing in the front burner
  2. Older Persons Bill passed by the Senate and awaiting concurrence at the House of Reps.
  3. Achieved national spread with Zonal Co-ordinators in 5 of the 6 geographical zones
  4. In 2016, COSROPIN attended Public Hearings in Nigeria, in support for an Act for a Commission for Senior Citizens, which later, on passage in 2017 became the National Senior Citizens’ Centre
  5. COSROPIN played a very active role during COVID-19 Pandemic through distribution of facemasks, production of jingles and videos on COVID-19 protocols which were played on TV and Radio and also organized numerous seminars, local and international webinars, and interviews on radio and television
  6. Collaborated with FMHADMSD in the flag-off of Palliatives at Karshi, Nasarawa State and subsequently, COSROPIN collected from the Ministry, the palliatives and distributed door-to-door to Older Persons in Abuja
  1. To forestall loneliness for Older Persons during COVID-19 lockdown, COSROPIN carried out credit top-up of N1000 airtime each in some States, including FCT
  2. Launched the Senior Citizens’ Games with a Football Match between the Coalition and Area 8 All Stars Football Team, Garki, Abuja
  3. Initiated National Elders’ Parliament in 2021 which was attended by the Rep of the SGF and other relevant MDAs who affirmed that NEP was a timely alternative Conflicts Resolution body
  4. Recognized by Government as being a valuable contributor in reviewing the National Policy on Ageing
  5. COSROPIN nominated the 1st Vice Chairman of CSOs on SDG in the Presidency and
  6. Organized two successful National Conferences.
PARTNERING WITH THE FOLLOWING MDAs:
• Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD)
• Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development
• National Orientation Agency (NOA)
• Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH)
• National Population Commission (NPC) and
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
ELECTION OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC)
• President - Sen. Dr. Eze Ajoku
• Vice President - Alh. Aliyu Abdullahi
• Secretary General - Arc. Victoria Onu
• Assist. Secretary General - Mrs. Chinyere Ezeh
• Public Relations Officer (PRO) - Mrs. Petra Ologundudu
• Assist. PRO - Mrs. Mary-Angela Momoh
• Financial Secretary - Barr. Col. Paul U. N. Omeruo (Rtd)
• Treasurer - AIG Steve Aiyewumi (Rtd)
• Legal Adviser - Z.O. Senbanjo (Esq)
• Welfare Officer - Dr. Goddy Edoziem
• Ex-Officio: - To be nominated by various member NGOs
APPOINTED BOARD OF TRUSTEE (BOT)
• Sen. Dr. Eze Ajoku - President COSROPIN - Statutory
• Prof. Tunde Adeniran, OFR - Chairman BOT COSROPIN
• Mr. Olayinka Ajomale
• Col. Barr. Paul Omeruo (Rtd)
• Dame May Ikokwu
• Sir Peter Aliu
• Prof. (Mrs) Akoria Obehi
• Alh. Bala Umar
• Alh. Ibrahim Abubakar Jega
• Alh. Ibrahim Bunu
• Gen. Yakubu Usman (Rtd)
• AIG Steven Aiyewumi (Rtd)
• R/Admiral Christopher Ehanmo (Rtd)
APPRECIATION
  1. COSROPIN deeply appreciates the Former Head of State, Dr. Gen. Yakubu Gowon, (Rtd), GCFR, for being the Patron of COSROPIN
  2. HON MINISTER, FMHADMSD for recognition given to COSROPIN for palliatives and vulnerable Older Persons items
  3. Director General, National Orientation Agency for grass-roots collaborations in the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria
  4. Director General, National Population Commission, for collaborating to capture the statistics of the Older Persons in Nigeria
  5. Coordinator, International Federation on Ageing- Nigeria (IFAN), for initiating NEP and other collaborations with COSROPIN
  6. Darling FM Radio, NTA News 24 for broadcasts and
  7. All other MDAs collaborating with the Coalition.

Protecting the Dignity of Ageing!

Advocacy for the Rights of Older Persons begins now
Lets us work together