Her Royal Highness Princes Infanta Dona Cristina, the very distinguished Good Will Ambassador of the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing,

Mr. President, Your Excellencies the Heads of State and Government, Your Excellency, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellencies, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would, first of all, like to congratulate you Mr. President and all the members of the bureau of the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing on your unanimous election. My delegation would also like to join others in expressing its deep appreciation to the government of Spain for the provision of facilities for this conference. I will further like to thank Her Royal Highness, the distinguished Ambassador of the 2nd World Conference on Ageing for her commitment to and personalization of the ideas of a society for all ages.

Mr. President,

My delegation supports the position of G 77 and China on the Programme of Action and Declaration, and it is also pleased to note in the statement of Hon. Juan Carlos Aparicio Perez, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Spain on behalf of the European Union, his emphasis on the necessity to include aging as an agenda for development, and to pay particular attention to the special needs of developing countries. This is solidarity in action.

Ageing is a subject that should be relevant to all as most of us, if not all, would like to be old and healthy. H. E. Dr. Han Soung-soo, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, on Monday, rightly stated that ageing should be an issue of concern to all since, barring fatal illness or accident, each and everyone of us will one day become an older person. I agree that ageing should be a subject of importance and relevance to all. In 1982, at the age of less than 40 years in Vienna, I did not feel as concerned about ageing as I do today. At that time, old age was so far away! It is therefore necessary for us to consider that youths should be involved in the discussion on ageing so that they can better prepare for and appreciate the challenges and possible problems of ageing.

Mr. President,

Nigeria as a developing country is also experiencing ageing phenomenon with its possible consequences. For example, the traditional family which supports everybody is gradually and sadly becoming weaker. Traditionally, older members of the society are regarded as assets to the family. The welfare of the elders has always been the responsibility of the other active members of the family. However it is sad to observe that the well-being of older persons, who have hitherto been regarded as assets to the society can no longer be taken for granted as a result of the effects of economic down-turn, which can be attributed to several external and domestic causes. The structural adjustment policies, heavy external debt servicing, recommended devaluation of local currencies and effects of unguarded globalization are some of the factors which could undermine the abilities of developing countries to create employment for the youths and provide social services for the elderly. Unemployment undermines the ability and the capacity of the active members of the society to cater for the elderly. My delegation would like the Programme of Action on Ageing to address those factors.

Mr. President,

My delegation would also like to emphasize the provision for the protection of the elderly against all abuse, violence and discrimination. Our programme of action should also emphasize non-discrimination in the field of economic activities, where the experience and the acquired skills of the older persons should be recognized and utilized. We also support the call for the elimination of all abuse, and violence against the elderly in every society. The least recognition or appreciation of the contribution of the elderly by the young generation is the care given to the elderly when they may become less active and more dependent.

I would like to conclude that the partnership between the civil society and governments, the solidarity between the developed and developing countries and the promotion of high social and moral standard and responsibility among private and public enterprises will facilitate the achievement of our fundamental objective of building a society fit for people of all ages for the mutual benefit of us all.

I thank you for your attention.