COSROPIN team defeat Phantom FC as novelty football match for older persons holds in Abuja

In a bid to promote regular exercise among the elderly in the country, the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons In Nigeria, COSROPIN, in partnership  with National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC and FCT Social Welfare Department, has organised a novelty match between older persons in the nation’s capital territory  and Phantom Football Club of Abuja.

Speaking during the novelty match at the Old Parade Ground, Garki Abuja, the President of COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku said the match was in continuation of activities to mark this year’s United Nations International Day of Older Persons, UNIDOP.

He stated that all activities being organized to mark this year’s UNIDOP, was also aimed at promoting Issues relating to the wellbeing of older persons in the country.

“The group has had city tour, train ride, airport excursion for olders pesrsons and today being Friday, the 17th of October, 2025, we are having novelty football match with the Phantom FC of Abuja while on Saturday, the 18th of October, 2025, we’ll be having golf match in celebrating people who are eighty years and above and that will be at the PYB Golf Club in Yar’Adua Barracks in Abuja while on the 22nd of October, 2025 will be the grand finale of our activities which will be road walk and other varieties where Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs and other stakeholders will give account of how they have been taken care of older persons in the country ” Senator Eze Ajoku explained.

While restating the need for the Federal Government to give priority to the welfare of older persons through necessary Legal framework, Senator Eze Ajoku stated that COSROPIN would continue to embark on programmes that would improve the living standard of the elderly nationwide.

“‘ A lot of older persons have a lot of experience and what we’re saying is that even after retirement, the Government should utilize us by taping from our wealth of experience in different capacities so that we can continue to contribute meaningfully to our nation. With older persons, Government should consider free healthcare and social care services and monthly stipend for them and above all that the Government should support the passage of the Bill for Older Persons which is currently before the National Assembly ” the President of COSROPIN explained.

In his words : “Nigeria should not forget older persons because they have wealth of experience they can contribute for national growth and development”.

In a remark, the Board Chairman of COSROPIN, Sir Peter Aliyu said the novelty match had given older persons the opportunity to interact and socialize with themselves thereby promoting love and unity among them.

He therefore promised the Board’s continuous support to the leadership of COSROPIN towards realizing its objectives to older persons in the country.

Some of the older persons who participated in the novelty match include Retired Colonel Paul Omeruah and Mrs Chinyere Orji commended COSROPIN for organizing the novelty football match.

They also urged the Federal Government to put in place free health care packages and monthly stipends for older persons in the country adding that the gesture would go a long way in improving their living condition.

In a remark, the Director General of the National Senior Citizen Centre, NSCC, Hon Mrs Bolanle Obe said the Centre would continue to support COSROPIN towards achieving its mandate for older persons in the country.

The Director General who was represented by her Special Adviser, Dr. Yewande Olabinjo said NSCC had also put in place necessary programmes that would add value to the living conditions of the elderly nationwide.

The novelty football match ended 4 –  2 in favour of COSROPIN Football Team.