Abia State Governor’s wife, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has decried the abuse, neglect and isolation of elderly people in society, saying they deserve appreciation and comfort for their years of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance.

Mrs. Otti spoke during the state’s commemoration of the 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), held on Wednesday, August 5.

Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Chidera Emetu, the governor’s wife said the theme of this year’s observance, “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work,” was a reminder that the strength of a society should not be measured only by its economic achievements or physical infrastructure.

She said it should also be judged by how it treats people who can no longer compete for attention, influence or opportunities.

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

She, however, noted that awareness alone cannot protect elderly men and women whose property has been taken away from them, nor can it comfort an elderly person abandoned because they are no longer economically productive.

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

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

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

She noted that growing old is a journey everyone hopes to undertake.

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

Nwaka said the event provided an opportunity to stand in solidarity with senior citizens, raise awareness and reaffirm the collective commitment to their dignity, respect and protection.

He said the year’s theme served as a reminder that elder abuse in any form, including physical, emotional and financial abuse or neglect, should have no place in society.

According to him, elderly people are custodians of culture, wisdom and history, adding that abusing or neglecting them amounted to denying society its own future.

Nwaka also pointed out that Abia State has legal backing for the protection of senior citizens through the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017, which he said had been domesticated in the state as the Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of Abia State.

He said the law provides a foundation for protecting the rights and welfare of senior citizens.

He added that a policy framework was also in place to support 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 appreciate the state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for his commitment to inclusive governance.

He also 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, which he said occurs in different forms and places, Nwaka called for severe punishment for convicted offenders, recommending life imprisonment for perpetrators of elder abuse.

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

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

Felix added that the occasion was also meant to celebrate and honour the sacrifices and significant contributions of elderly people who, through their 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 an institutional capacity framework capable of addressing the challenges facing elderly people.

He stressed that ageing should come with respect, dignity, care and protection for senior citizens.