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The former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja chapter, Dr Isaac Komolafe, has called for the setting aside of a day to mark International Grandparents Day.
Komolafe, who is also the Executive Director of the Christian Centre for Mission, Family and Leadership Development (CEMFLED), in a statement yesterday, said International Grandparents Day should be designed as a strategic, faith-aligned complement to the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, observed each October 1.
The pastor explained that while the UN day addresses the rights of older persons broadly, IGPD will centre specifically on the relational role of grandparents within the family unit, as caregivers, cultural custodians, mentors, and protectors.
According to him, “Grandparents are the unseen backbone of the family. They preserve our culture, steady our homes, and pass down the values that hold generations together. Yet their contribution remains largely absent from policy, health, and social systems worldwide.
“International Grandparents Day is our call to change that, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a deliberate investment in family resilience, cultural continuity, and the safety of our children.”
The Deputy Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), FCT Chapter, announced arrangements to celebrate grandparents, explaining that the initiative rests on four foundational pillars: recognising grandparents as the unseen infrastructure of family resilience; affirming their role in the intergenerational transmission of faith, culture, and values; addressing the public health imperative of reducing social isolation and cognitive decline among older adults; and recognising the economic and social capital that grandparents contribute through caregiving and community support.
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He further identified grandparents as vital agents of prevention and protection against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“As engaged caregivers, grandparents are often the first to notice behavioural changes in children, serve as trusted mediators during family conflict, and model respectful, dignified relationships that strengthen a family’s protective capacity—positioning strong, connected families as a frontline defence against violence.
“CEMFLED will pursue the initiative through a structured, four-phase roadmap over the course of 2026: building a coalition of Founding Partners and finalising the advocacy framework; developing the IGPD brand, digital toolkit, and pilot events; mounting a global media and policy advocacy push; and culminating in the inaugural observance in September 2026, followed by an impact report to guide institutionalisation and broader international recognition in subsequent years.”
He added that strengthening grandparents strengthens families, and strengthening families strengthens nations.
