Association seeks welfare support for elderly, retirees

Ini Billie, Uyo

The University of Uyo Women Association (UWA) has called for a sustainable welfare support system for the elderly and retirees in society.

The association’s president, Mrs Uduak Ndaeyo said the group was concerned about the welfare of retired staff members of the university, informing that it has employed ways of touching their lives.

Speaking on Monday in Uyo during a get-together to honour retirees of the university, who have served for 35 years, and pupils of the University of Uyo Staff School, Ndaeyo added that their selfless efforts in service have sustained the university.

According to her, the gathering was purely to recognize hard work as a means of encouraging those in service to demonstrate excellence in any job assigned to them in the services of the University.

The president, however, urged the retirees to look beyond the parting gifts and consider the love shown by the association, adding that it was the wishes and prayers of UWA that they continue to remain ambassadors of the institution.

She said: “There is a need to provide sustainable welfare support and assist the elderly in the society. The University of Uyo Women Association (UWA) is particularly concerned about the welfare of the retired members of staff of the institution.

“We have employed this event as a way of touching their lives. UWA decided to honour retirees of the university for putting in 35 years in the services of the institution because the selfless efforts they made have sustained the University of Uyo.

“This step is purely to recognize hard work as a means of encouraging those in service to demonstrate excellence in any aspect of job assigned to them in the University of Uyo.

“Do not consider what you are being given as parting packs but look at the love shown by the association. It is the wishes and prayers of UWA that you all continue to remain ambassadors of the institution.”

On children training, Mrs Ndaeyo stated that it was the joint responsibility of parents and the schools to groom the children to enable them to gain from the investment made in their educational training.

“Today we are here with our dear children, to share in the good news of that great joy, the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ. What is your gift as a mother, a father and a friend to the children at this season?”

She urged parents to reciprocate the love of Christ in dealing with the children, adding that while parents have a greater part in the duty of properly bringing up their children, the schools were required to instil in them the right academic attitude to enable them to excel beyond where they were.