The O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation has introduced a pioneering community initiative in Port Harcourt designed to ensure sustained care and support for the elderly. Named 'Adopt a Senior Citizen', the programme seeks to forge direct partnerships between the foundation, individuals, families, and organisations to bolster the welfare of senior citizens in the city and its environs.
A New Chapter in Elderly Care
The initiative was officially launched on Thursday, 2nd January 2026, during a special New Year celebration hosted by the foundation for the senior citizens already under its care in Port Harcourt. The event served as a platform to present this new model of community-driven support.
Founded in 2001 by its Chairman, Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the foundation has a long-standing mission to promote human dignity through focused humanitarian work. Its core areas include healthcare, elderly care, and social welfare for vulnerable groups in underserved communities.
Moral Responsibility and Sustained Support
Addressing attendees at the launch, Dr. Lulu-Briggs emphasised that caring for the elderly is both a moral imperative and a shared social duty. She framed the new 'Adopt a Senior Citizen' scheme as a practical way to encourage more direct involvement from the public.
"The initiative is designed to encourage individuals, families and organisations to partner with the foundation by directly supporting the care of elderly persons," she stated.
She explained that the programme operates under the foundation's broader Care for Life programme, which guarantees comprehensive, lifelong support. This includes:
- Medical care and sustained attention
- Provision of daily basic needs
- Personal assistance
- Ongoing emotional and social support
Dr. Lulu-Briggs highlighted that the foundation's commitment extends until the end of the senior citizen's life, guided by principles of compassion, dignity, and service.
Impact and a Call to Action
The foundation's work has already made a significant impact. Dr. Lulu-Briggs disclosed that more than 600 senior citizens have benefited from the Care for Life programme over the years, receiving consistent medical care, essential supplies, and social engagement.
While thanking existing donors for their consistent annual support, she issued a strong appeal for more Nigerians to participate by adopting a senior citizen. "Caring for the elderly reflects our enduring societal values and a shared sense of responsibility," she noted.
The launch event also featured goodwill messages from medical volunteers, beneficiaries, and representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association. They collectively praised Dr. Lulu-Briggs for continuing the humanitarian legacy she began with her late husband, describing the foundation's work as a vital contribution to social welfare.
The celebration concluded on a festive note with a sermon, the cutting of a New Year cake by the senior citizens themselves, and the distribution of food items and gifts to all attendees.
