Agulu:Dr. Eugenia Ndukwe, Convener of the National Pre-Retirement Summit and founder of XEM Consultants Ltd., has announced plans to establish Aging Centres for Productivity and Empowerment across Nigeria. The initiative aims to promote productive aging and will include a flagship centre in Agulu, Anambra, in honor of her mother, Mrs. Evelyn Iloanya.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the flagship centre, named Evelyn Iloanya Aging Centre for Productivity and Empowerment, is scheduled to begin full operations in the first quarter of 2027. These centers are designed to provide a purposeful environment for older individuals to live, learn, earn, and remain active in society.
The model combines residential care with opportunities for learning, enterprise, mentorship, healthcare, and community engagement. Residents aged 65 and above will have access to comfortable accommodations, nutrition, caregiving, routine medical checks, and wellness monitoring. They will also participate in low-stress enterprises tailored to their interests and skills, such as gardening, food processing, and crafts.
A digital studio will be available for residents to share cultural knowledge and life experiences through videos and podcasts while learning basic digital skills to stay connected with their communities. Additionally, the centre will feature a ‘grandparent crèche’ where older adults can interact with young children, fostering intergenerational connections.
The initiative will involve National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the centre’s management, promoting interaction between younger and older generations. Dr. Ndukwe’s model was inspired by her visit to elderly homes in Casablanca, Morocco, where she observed the need for more purposeful and productive environments for seniors.
The centres will operate under the national brand, Aging Centre for Productivity and Empowerment, and will be sustained through partnerships with various stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, and private-sector organizations. Dr. Ndukwe emphasized that the initiative would restore dignity, purpose, and income for older persons, while also creating jobs and preserving cultural heritage.
Dr. Ndukwe has been organizing the National Pre-Retirement Summit annually since 2024, focusing on informed retirement planning and promoting productive aging in Nigeria.