Omolayole was speaking at the press conference to mark the 2017 Older Persons Day organised by the 3rd Age Initiative, a non-governmental organisation advocating care for the elderly in the society.
Omolayole decried the disrespectful treatment and lack of tolerance for senior citizens in public spaces.
According to him, a senior citizen is not expected to stand in a queue as seen frequently in banking halls.
He narrated how a pensioner was conveyed to a verification centre in a wheelbarrow by his son only to be turned back by officials.
“Stories like this do not portray the society as being fair and friendly with the aged,” Omolayole said.
Renowned philosophy scholar and teacher, Professor Sophie Oluwole, also spoke at the event, imploring the society to show compassion to senior citizens.
She said etiquette towards the elderly should be taught in schools to instil in the younger generation respect and care for the aged.
Another elderly person, 91-year-old Professor Joseph Sodipo, said Nigerians needed to know that aging was a process that would affect every human being, hence, the need to show respect and compassion to the aged.
In her opening remarks, executive director of 3rd Age Initiative, Ms. Toun Giwa, said some of the things the organisation had been advocating for the aged, like geriatric centres , were now being looked into by the government.
More inHome
“Just because the elderly move slower and take longer time to get up does not mean they are useless. Elderly rights are human rights,” she said.
Advertisement
