By Olayemi John-Mensah
Caring Lot International Initiative (CLII), in collaboration with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and United Healthcare HMO, has called for increased awareness, early detection and intervention in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to improve the quality of care for older persons in Nigeria.
The organisations made the call during the 2026 World Alzheimer’s Day programme held in Abuja under the theme, “Know Early, Care Better: Changing the Story of Alzheimer’s in Nigeria.”
The programme brought together senior citizens, healthcare professionals, caregivers and other stakeholders for discussions on ageing, dementia, healthcare access, caregiver support and community-based care.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of CLII, Engr. Lawunmi Ismail, said the programme was designed to draw attention to the needs of ageing Nigerians, particularly persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and those providing care for them.
Ismail described ageing as a natural part of life and urged caregivers to remain committed to their responsibilities, while calling on families, communities and institutions to provide stronger support for caregivers.
She noted that caring for older persons can be demanding and requires collective responsibility to ensure that caregivers are not left to shoulder the burden alone.
The 1st Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of CLII, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, called for increased public education, early recognition and intervention, stronger support systems for caregivers and more inclusive communities for older persons and people living with memory-related conditions.
Adesugba stressed the need to ensure that senior citizens are not excluded from community programmes and social-support initiatives.
He said improved awareness and timely intervention would enable families and communities to respond more effectively to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
On the government’s efforts, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced plans to establish a Brain Health Desk under the National Mental Health Programme and develop Nigeria’s first National Brain Health Agenda.
The proposed framework is expected to strengthen policy coordination, advocacy, research, surveillance, workforce development and access to neurological services.
Nigeria is also working towards implementing the World Health Organisation’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022–2031, which includes dementia among the broader neurological disease burden.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the ACCI Medical Trade Group and Chief Executive Officer of United Healthcare HMO, Dr. Kolawole Owoka, stressed the importance of community and healthcare structures in supporting caregivers and people living with dementia.
Owoka advocated the development of dementia-friendly and inclusive communities, saying greater public understanding could help reduce stigma and social isolation while enabling older persons and those experiencing memory difficulties to participate more actively in community life.
Representing the Director-General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, the Deputy Director-General, Dr. Tinuke Temitope, commended CLII for its awareness and advocacy efforts.
She reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to initiatives promoting healthcare, healthy ageing and social welfare, noting that ACCI’s involvement reflects its wider stakeholder and advocacy role.
According to her, the Chamber’s Health and Medical Trade Group provides a platform for addressing issues affecting the healthcare and medical sectors from both business and development perspectives.
She added that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia go beyond the healthcare sector, with implications for families, caregivers, workplace productivity, social welfare and the wider economy.
Participants at the programme identified increased attention to senior citizens, stronger public education, improved caregiver support and greater community engagement as key priorities.
They also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, businesses, sponsors and community groups.
The participants advocated increased support for radio jingles, social media campaigns, information sharing, health insurance awareness and other interventions aimed at reducing stigma and improving the wellbeing of older persons.
The programme reinforced the need for a coordinated, community-focused approach to ageing, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care in Nigeria.
Stakeholders emphasised that awareness, early recognition, caregiver support, accessible healthcare, reduced stigma and inclusive communities remain important to ensuring that older persons live with dignity and receive appropriate care.
They further stressed that as Nigeria develops its emerging national focus on brain health, government policies and initiatives should translate into practical support for senior citizens, people living with dementia and the caregivers who support them.
