Aged People’s Care: Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Njoku Unveils Zikanoc Care Foundation Amid Commendations

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA & HARRIET IJEOMAH

In a country where life expectancy is rather too short due to the harsh socioeconomic environment; lack of free  medical care, absence of official  social security, perpetually delayed gratuity, lack of well tailored welfare scheme and politicization of pension funds, you can only find a highly dependent and possibly frustrated aged people, whose common fate for survival lies in the hands of either their children or the society. But in a situation where children of these aged people are not well to do as to take good care of their parents, they become unconventional burdens to the society or NGOs; who now go out of their ways to seek some kind of partnership with national or foreign donor agencies and other humanitarian organizations as to fill the gap of shouldering the daunting tasks and responsibilities of adequately providing for the aged, majority of whom have various degrees of health challenges.

In the light of the above, Zikanoc Health Services last Saturday, April 24, 2021, officially unveiled its Foundation, which recorded  the presence of notable personalities; representatives from several public and private institutions within Nigeria and outside country. The colourful unveiling ceremony held at the Fourtune Center Complex of the Foundation; situated at the highbrow Concord Avenue, World Bank Area, Owerri, opposite new Imo High Court Building.

Zikanoc Care Foundation for the aged, dispassionately founded by an Imo Amazon, former Commissioner for Health and Imo State Coordinator of Coalition of Societies for the Protection of Rights of Older People, COSROPIN, Barr. Ngozi Njoku, was launched amid  celebrations as it provided free medical care services and tender love for the aged irrespective of their weaknesses and challenges.

The watershed launching of Zikanoc Care Foundation witnessed an interactive session for Keynote Speakers and Panelists, which included;  Chairman of the occasion, Senator Osita Izunaso, ably represented by Chief Ford Ozurumba, the D.G of Kpakpando Foundation, Rt. Hon. Amaechi Nwoha, a former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Jaja, Federal Commissioner for people with disability, Hon. Justice Grace Chukwunyere, Mrs. Nancy Ejiofor.

Other dignatries included Senator Eze Ajoku, President of Coalition of Societies for the Protection of Rights of Older People, COSROPIN, Prof Mrs. Asiabiaka, Hon Chief Mrs. Josephine Udoji, former Commissioner for Works, Dr Stanley Okoro, Barr. Mrs. Tonia Okolie, Plastic Surgeon in Atlanta, amongst notable personalities and invited guests.

Speaking at the function, Mrs. Nancy Ejiofor, a reputable lecturer and dietician, who spoke on the need for healthy choices of diet,  harped on the importance of taking healthy foods like vegetables and fruits especially at old age. 

“The food we eat should be determined by our current medical health diagnosis”, she strongly advised.

Senator Izunaso buttressed the need to support and take care of elderly ones.
In his words:  “For me, there is a blessing attached to taking care of the aged as they are the ones that brought us into the world and gave us the best. It’s our sole duty to support and take good care of them at their old age”.

He however, noted that Zikanoc Care Foundation has made it much easier, especially for those who are far from their parents. He urged  everyone to share the word and support the Foundation in making their vision a reality.

The Founder, Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Njoku, a former Director General of Imo Foundation and Honourable Commissioner for Health, in an interview, highlighted how her mother’s illness pushed her into opening a Foundation for elderly people. 

“I have always been inspired to assist less privileged and people with disability; it is borne out of passion, I love to associate with older people because I love to watch the drama that comes with old age.”

Mr. Jaja, while addressing the audience and participants, highly commended Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Njoku (Olaedo) for her compassionate heart, milk of human kindness and visionary leadership in coming up with such a laudable and impactful Initiative like this. He also pleaded that people living with some disability should be accommodated in all works of social affairs as ‘their  disability is not inability’.

Mr. Jaja, however, added that his  office is working assiduously to  include elderly people and the physically challenged in select  communities.

– Njoku MacDonald Obinna,

Media Consultant|PR-Expert,

Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters 

– Harriet Ijeoma, 

Imo based blogger, journalist and news reporter with Nigeria Watchdog Newspapers.