Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s population demographics, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, stakeholders convened at the maiden Caring Africa Summit in Lagos to champion comprehensive reforms in the country’s care industry.
Chinyere Okoroafor reports that Nigeria has the highest number of older people in the continent, and the 19th highest across the globe, with the population of Nigerians aged 65 and older projected to triple by 2050.
With the mass exodus of young Nigerians to foreign countries, the homecare role in the country is gradually solidifying, especially for the elderly as many seek care for their aged parents and relatives left behind.
Meanwhile, according to stakeholders, Nigeria’s caregiving industry is still at its infant stage and largely informal and unregulated.
Caregiving is providing care for the daily needs of someone that is unable to care for themselves. The care may include addressing the physical, domestic and emotional needs of someone who requires continuous support and attention. The individual could be a loved one, a child or a friend. Most caregiving occurs in the home.
At the Caring Africa Summit, organized by Founder/Chief Executive Officer of MH Worklife, Blessing Adesiyan, stakeholders echoed that a strategic focus on the care industry is not just a societal imperative but a visionary pathway to prosperity.
