INIA in collaboration with the Dave Omokaro Foundation Nigeria, jointly organized an international in-situ training programme in Ageing Policy Formulation, Planning and Implementation for the enhancement of skills , knowledge and building of networks in ageing in Nigeria. The programme, designed for medical and Para-medical practitioners/personnel from health and allied disciplines including Insurance personnel, personal care attendants and health-oriented NGOs monitoring SDGs Goals 1-5, was held between 24-28 June 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria. It was attended by 32 participants.
The opening ceremony was deliberately organized to coincide with the first in the series of Distinguished Public Lectures of the Dave Omokaro Africa Institute on Ageing and Development (DOFRIAD) University of Abuja, in honor of Vice Chancellor, Prof Michael Amalu Adiku. The lecture which was titled “Population Ageing and Sustainable Development: Implications for Multidisciplinary Research and Training Towards Legal, Policy and Programmatic Action in Nigeria”, was delivered by Prof. Funmi Togonu Bickersteth of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and the Pro-Chancellor Federal University Gusau Zamfara State. The opening ceremony also witnessed the video broadcast of INIA’s Welcome address delivered by Rosette Farrugia-Bonello, Deputy Director INIA. This was followed by a documentary on Ageing in Nigeria, a production of Dave Omokaro Foundation in collaboration with WHO titled In the Shadows and an an overview of Dave Omokaro Foundation’s impact in human resource capacity development in ageing in Nigeria. The ceremony came to a close with a vote of thanks from Mallam Ibrahim Iro Dan’Iya, Registrar Dave Omokaro Africa Institute on Ageing and Development, University of Abuja.
This multi-disciplinary five-day training programme dealt with socio-economic and health implications of increased demographics of older persons. Besides the lectures, case studies, report presentations and break-out sessions, a tour of rural Nigeria was also organised.