The Acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Ezionye Eboh, has emphasised the need to take adequate care of the aged in the society.
Eboh gave this charge in his keynote address at the inauguration of the Ala Ngwa Old People’s Home in Aba.
He lamented the rate at which old people are abandoned in the society, adding that two factors are responsible for this misnomer: prevailing depletion of financial capacity and westernization of African culture and socio-political values.
He said: “Many people have become weary in taking care of the aged as if it has become a taboo to grow old.
“Two major reasons may be clearly advanced for this seeming apathy and indifference, namely: prevailing depletion of people’s financial capacity and westernization of African culture and socio-political values.”
According to Eboh, another factor that contributed to this ugly trend is the penchant to jettison the community spirit among the people.
He said that people no longer place values on the fact that what affects one person affects others.
He said: “In addition, economies the world over have continued to degenerate as inflation and hunger ravage many parts of the African continent as poor economies lack the capacity to adequately care for the young who are the prospects of the peoples’ future not to talk of the aged.”
Eboh lauded the courage of the proponents of the home and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State for lending support to the venture.
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