Study of Population Ageing Trends and Service Implications in Ogun State

Population ageing is an emerging but underacknowledged demographic reality even in high-fertility Nigerian states, and its early documentation in Ogun State supports proactive planning for elderly care and social support systems. This study examined population ageing trends and their implications for health and social services in Abeokuta North, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode Local Government Areas, Ogun State. Secondary demographic data from NBS age distributions were analysed alongside primary data from 200 elderly persons aged 60 and above. Data covered health status, functional limitations, income sources, living arrangements, family support, and healthcare access. Persons aged 60 and above constituted 7.3 percent of Ogun State's population. Most elderly respondents (72.5 percent) relied on family support as their primary income source, with formal pension coverage in only 18.0 percent. Functional limitations were reported by 41.5 percent. Hypertension and diabetes were the most prevalent chronic conditions. Healthcare-seeking was constrained by cost for 63.5 percent. Recommendations include a state geriatric care policy, expansion of health insurance coverage to elderly non-formal workers, community-based elderly support groups, and incentivising family-based elder care through social protection programming in Ogun State.

Keywords: population ageing, elderly welfare, Ogun State, geriatric care, social support These findings underscore the urgency of developing geriatric service infrastructure and pension access pathways for Ogun State's ageing population.