By Joseph Abasi-Abasi
Calabar, Nigeria – The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has recognised 50 alumni from the Hope Waddell Training Institution, who are celebrating the institution’s 130th anniversary, as senior citizens of Nigeria.
The ceremony for the investiture of these 50 distinguished individuals, focused on intergenerational learning and youth mentoring, occurred on Saturday at the Assembly Hall of Hope Waddell in Calabar.
Emem Omokaro, the Director General of NSCC, represented by Mr. Omini Oden, Head of Corporate Affairs, Media, and Communications, highlighted that NSCC is a Federal Agency established by the NSCC Act of 2017 and inaugurated in 2021. Its mission is to address the challenges faced by older individuals and to enhance their quality of life and well-being.
“We are excited to showcase our various transformative and innovative programmes, particularly our Continuing Engagement Bureau programme, which provides senior citizens with opportunities to contribute to their communities through work schemes and labour market agreements,” she stated.
“Today, we present our senior alumni with the position of NSCC Distinguished Envoy for Intergenerational Learning and Youth Mentoring. NSCC facilitates engagement platforms for both the Institute and its alumni to realise the theme of Hope Waddell’s 130th anniversary: Glorious Heritage: Inspiring the Future.”
Omokaro emphasised that the centre’s objective is to connect senior citizens with voluntary opportunities in fields of interest to help them generate or supplement income.
She explained that NSCC aims to partner with the alumni to serve as distinguished faces and voices, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences between generations through structured mentoring relationships that inspire and foster connections.
“In line with the NSCC Continuing Engagement Bureau Programme, we invite alumni aged 60 and above from Hope Waddell to embrace this platform to operationalise the theme ‘Glorious Heritage: Inspiring the Future,” she noted.
The objective is to promote intergenerational activities, cross-generational learning, and life coaching, she added.
Following the investiture, Barr. Efio-ita Ephraim, President of the Hope Waddell Old Student’s Association (HWOSA), characterised the recognition from the NSCC as a call to service. He encouraged the honorees to utilise their experience and expertise to the fullest.
“We are grateful to NSCC for selecting Hope Waddell Alumni as the pilot group for this initiative. This acknowledgement is a testament to our capability to deliver, and it’s indeed a call to service,” he said.
The National Coordinator of the NSCC, Engr. Ekpe Essien Ita who is also an alumnus of the institution, encouraged members to strive for excellence while keeping the institution’s best interests in mind.
Among those honoured as senior citizens are Barr. Efioita Ephraim, Mr Okon Onoyom-Ita, Engr. Slim Otu Antia, Pst. Obong Bassey Obong, Prof. Chinemelu Okoye, Engr. Andy Onyung, Prof. Ekpenyong Itam, Archbishop Idem Ikon, Dr Donald Ikpe, Engr. Amba Nsunwara, Pst. Godfrey Onwuzo, Chief Gershom Henshaw, Dr (Mrs) Deborah Edide, Mr Akabom Enebong, Engr. Bassey Ephraim, Mazi Emmanuel Chiori, Elder Gershom Davis, Dr Enun B. Enun, Dr Kofi Ikpeme, and Mr George Bassey, among others.
