-----As the foundation marks 15 years of caring for the aged
By Kayode Olopade
The Aduke Foundation for Graceful Old Age has called on Nigerians living abroad to remain actively involved in the welfare and well-being of their ageing parents and relatives back home, declaring that geographical distance should never become an excuse for emotional neglect or absence from their lives.
The Foundation made the call as it celebrated its 15th anniversary on Thursday, November 5, 2026, while unveiling its Diaspora Care Initiative, a programme designed to bridge the care gap between Nigerians in the diaspora and their elderly parents living in Nigeria.
According to the Convener and Coordinator of the program, Otunba Tokunbo Babs-Olurinde, a.k.a 'Skin Dudu', explained that the program reflects the Foundation's renewed commitment to promoting dignity, compassion and quality of life for older people, seeks to provide practical support for ageing parents whose children and relatives reside outside the country.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Skin Dudu emphasised that although many Nigerians travel abroad in pursuit of better opportunities, career advancement and improved living conditions, their responsibilities towards their ageing parents must remain a priority.
According to her" financial remittances, gifts and occasional telephone conversations, though also important, cannot always replace the physical presence, companionship and day-to-day attention that elderly people require as they advance in age.
Under the Diaspora Care Initiative, Nigerians abroad will have access to support services for their elderly parents, including wellness checks, companionship and home-care assistance, errands and help with daily needs, alongside regular updates on their parents' welfare", She said
The programme is expected to provide reassurance to Nigerians abroad who are often concerned about the safety, health and general well-being of their parents but are unable to attend to their needs personally because of geographical limitations.
The Foundation believes that structured and dependable care arrangements can help address the challenges associated with ageing, particularly loneliness, inadequate attention and the difficulties elderly people encounter when they have limited family support around them.
Its message, "Distance Should Never Mean Absence," underscores the belief that love, responsibility and commitment to elderly parents should not diminish simply because children live thousands of kilometres away.
The 15th anniversary celebration also provided an opportunity to reflect on the Foundation's journey, its interventions in the lives of older citizens and the growing need for organised elderly-care services in Nigeria.
With increasing numbers of Nigerians relocating abroad for education, employment and other opportunities, the Foundation considers diaspora engagement an important component of efforts to strengthen family support systems and improve the quality of life of senior citizens.
It stressed that ageing should not translate into isolation, abandonment or loss of dignity, adding that elderly people deserve compassionate attention, respect and the assurance that they remain valued members of their families and communities.
The Foundation's anniversary milestone therefore marks not merely 15 years of service, but also a renewed determination to expand the conversation around responsible ageing, family obligations and the need for sustainable elderly-care solutions.
Through the Diaspora Care Initiative, the Aduke Foundation for Graceful Old Age is seeking to redefine how Nigerians abroad maintain meaningful connections with their ageing parents, demonstrating that although distance may separate families physically, it should never separate them emotionally or diminish their responsibility towards one another.
The message is clear: Children may live abroad, but their love, care and responsibility for their ageing parents must remain firmly at home.
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