By Taofik Afolabi
Aduke Foundation for Graceful Old Age has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a renewed commitment to the welfare, dignity and well-being of elderly people, while unveiling a new initiative designed to help Nigerians living abroad take better care of their ageing parents back home.
The anniversary celebration, held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, well-wishers, supporters, stakeholders and members of the foundation to celebrate 15 years of dedicated service to the elderly.
The event also provided an opportunity for the foundation to reflect on its achievements, appreciate individuals who have supported its mission and unveil its Diaspora Care Initiative, an intervention aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad who are concerned about the welfare of their ageing parents and relatives in Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, the Convener of Aduke Foundation, Otunba Tokunbo Aderinokun Babs-Olurinde (Skindudu), reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that elderly people enjoy their later years with dignity, love, attention and adequate care.
The newly unveiled Diaspora Care Initiative is designed to bridge the gap between Nigerians living overseas and their elderly parents at home. Through the programme, family members abroad will be able to access organised care and support services for their loved ones in Nigeria.
The initiative is expected to provide services including regular wellness check-ins, companionship and care at home, assistance with errands and everyday needs, as well as updates sent directly to family members abroad.
With the initiative, Aduke Foundation hopes to make it easier for children living outside Nigeria to remain actively involved in the welfare of their parents, despite the challenges of distance and busy schedules.
The foundation’s message, “Distance should never mean absence,” captures the philosophy behind the new programme and its determination to ensure that elderly people are not abandoned or neglected because their children live far away.
Over the past 15 years, Aduke Foundation has remained committed to promoting compassionate care for older people, recognising the important role they have played in raising families, building communities and preserving cultural values.
The anniversary celebration featured goodwill messages, interactions with guests, photographs and other activities that highlighted the importance of collective responsibility towards the elderly.
The event also served as a reminder that caring for ageing parents should not be left to individual families alone, but should attract the attention and support of communities, organisations and well-meaning individuals.
The foundation believes that old age should be a period of comfort, respect and fulfilment rather than loneliness, neglect and uncertainty.
The unveiling of the Diaspora Care Initiative therefore represents another significant step in Aduke Foundation’s mission to expand its reach and develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting elderly people and their families.
As the organisation celebrates 15 years of impact, its message remains clear: Those who spent their younger years caring for others deserve to be cared for in their old age.
With its renewed commitment and the introduction of the Diaspora Care Initiative, Aduke Foundation is looking towards a future where distance will no longer prevent children from providing love, attention and meaningful support to their ageing parents in Nigeria.