The Rotary Club of Abuja has urged President Bola Tinubu to look into the country’s economic hardship and generate more jobs and a better work environment in order to reduce the number of suicides that have claimed the lives of young Nigerians.
Agwu Ijeoma Joyce, president of Rotary International, made the call yesterday at an event to mark World Suicide Prevention Day Awareness Campaign organised by the club at Jabi Lake Park in Abuja, saying that when someone is occupied, they may not have that chance or time to contemplate suicide, and advised that the government should engage the elderly who are retired in their lines of work to help them survive.
“There are people who are retiring from government, unfortunately, they do not have anything to fall back on. But before retirement, the government establishment should do something to help that person know that there is a fallback at the end of the day.
“Suicide is increasing by the day, and we are bringing this awareness because we need to inform people that people sit back and they are going through a lot, but for the fact that they are not able to speak out, it gets worse. And that is why we are embarking on this awareness.
“Also, so that people are not stigmatised or judged, so that we can lend a hand and listening ear. We can touch and impact the lives of people around us, our family members, society and colleagues in the office, in churches and mosques. Suicide is not peculiar to a particular sect or section of the country, it is all over,” she said.
