Lagos State First Lady, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has extended an ongoing elderly support programme to communities in the Badagry division, reaffirming the importance of caring for senior citizens and recognising their contributions to society.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks during visits to senior citizens in Badagry Central Local Government Area, Badagry West Local Council Development Area and Olorunda LCDA as part of the programme.
She said growing old should not mean being forgotten or excluded from society, stressing that elderly people should continue to feel valued and cared for regardless of whether they remain active in the workforce or are able to perform activities they once could.
According to the Lagos State Government, the initiative is designed not only to provide financial assistance but also to demonstrate appreciation, respect and concern for older residents.
The Badagry outreach follows the first phase of the programme, which began on July 29 with visits to senior citizens in Oori-Ade, Amuwo-Odofin and Ojo. Beneficiaries of that phase received food items and cash support.
Sanwo-Olu described Badagry as an area with a rich history and cultural heritage, noting that the contributions of its people remain part of Lagos State's development.
She also acknowledged similar interventions for older people under the Renewed Hope Initiative led by Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and called for continued efforts to improve the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.
The Lagos First Lady said the elderly visitation programme had already covered the Lagos, Ikorodu and Epe divisions, with Badagry now included in the ongoing outreach. Ikeja remains the only Lagos division yet to be reached under the programme, according to the state government.
The initiative builds on earlier elderly-support activities associated with Sanwo-Olu's office. In 2024, she presented cash and gift items to beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme in Lagos, with 80 senior citizens targeted in that initial state-level intervention.
The latest Badagry outreach therefore represents an expansion of the programme to additional communities rather than the launch of an entirely new elderly-support initiative.
The focus on older residents also forms part of wider efforts by government and social organisations to address the needs of senior citizens, including access to basic support, healthcare and social inclusion.
For the beneficiaries in Badagry, the immediate intervention provides practical assistance while also drawing attention to the broader question of how elderly people can remain supported and included as they age.
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