Watching My Father At 92 Made Me Appreciate That Longevity Is Not Purely Biological, Says Dr Menakaya

Dr Chichi Menakaya is a London-based robotic trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. She is also the CEO of Annomo Health. As she reflects on the 92nd birthday of her father, Dr Timothy Ndubisi Menakaya, she advises that Nigeria must rethink how it cares for its ageing population. Still mentally alert, emotionally engaged, and physically resilient at 92, the elder statesman who was a former Nigeria’s Minister of Health under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, according to his daughter, represents a generation shaped by discipline, resilience, faith, and quiet endurance. Dr Menakaya speaks with Bennett Oghifo on ageing, caregiving, mobility, dementia, and the emotional realities families face as parents grow older, while also highlighting what she believes Nigeria continues to misunderstand about elderly care.

Your father turns 92 this week. What has that milestone meant to you personally?

Honestly, it has been deeply emotional. As children, we see our parents as almost permanent, strong, capable, untouchable in some ways. So, there is something profoundly humbling about watching someone who once carried you enter a stage of life where you become increasingly conscious of protecting them. At the same time, seeing my father at 92 still mentally engaged, still strong, still present, has also been incredibly inspiring. It has made me think a lot about what healthy ageing actually looks like.

Has it changed your perspective as a doctor?

Completely. As surgeons, we are trained to treat injury, disease, fractures, degeneration, and crisis, but, watching my father age has reminded me that medicine must also focus on preserving dignity, mobility, cognition, independence, and quality of life over time. Longevity is not simply about living longer. It is about living well for longer. That is a very different conversation.

Longevity medicine is becoming a major global discussion. What exactly is it?
Many people hear “longevity medicine” and think of aesthetics or expensive anti-ageing treatments, but true longevity medicine is much broader than that. It focuses on improving health span and the quality of life within those later years. It is about preserving mobility, protecting cognition, reducing disease burden early, maintaining muscle mass, improving cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation, prioritising emotional wellbeing, sleep, movement, nutrition, and social connection. The goal is not simply adding years to life. It is helping people remain functional, independent, mentally strong, and engaged with life for as long as possible.

Do you think Nigeria is prepared for an ageing population?

Honestly, no. We still approach ageing reactively instead of proactively. Most conversations happen after crisis, after a fall, after dementia, after major illness and after hospitalisation. Africa’s population is gradually ageing, and we need to begin building systems around healthy ageing now. We need better geriatric care, rehabilitation services, dementia awareness, mobility preservation, elderly-friendly healthcare, home support systems, preventative medicine and most importantly legislation protecting the elderly from people meant to care for them. There is also still shame around dependence in many African homes. Many elderly people minimise their struggles because they do not want to feel like burdens to their children.

As an orthopaedic surgeon, what concerns you most medically about ageing?
Mobility decline. People underestimate how important movement is to healthy ageing. The ability to walk independently, preserve balance, maintain muscle strength, and remain physically active affects almost every aspect of health later in life. One of the biggest dangers I see in elderly patients is falls. Families often dismiss falls as “normal old age,” but medically they can be catastrophic. A single fall can lead to fractures, surgery, prolonged rehabilitation, loss of independence, depression, and sometimes even early mortality. A hip fracture in an elderly patient is not a small issue. In the UK, we aim to operate within 36 hours because delays increase morbidity and mortality significantly. Yet in many African settings, families may spend days or weeks deciding what to do. Many of these outcomes are preventable with earlier intervention and awareness.

Dementia is still poorly understood in many African communities. What should families know?
First, dementia is not madness, it is not spiritual, it is a medical condition. Normal ageing may involve occasionally forgetting names or misplacing things but repeated confusion, personality changes, getting lost, forgetting medications, struggling with daily tasks, or major behavioural changes may signal something more serious. Early recognition matters enormously because it allows families to plan, adapt, and provide support earlier.

Emotionally, what do you think families struggle with most as parents age?

Role reversal, that is one of the hardest parts psychologically. Many adults are not emotionally prepared to watch their parents age, especially in African cultures where parents are viewed as authority figures, protectors, and providers. Suddenly having conversations about safety, mobility, medications, or dependence can feel deeply uncomfortable for both sides. Many elderly people resist help not because they are difficult, but because accepting help can feel like losing independence. That emotional side of ageing is something we do not discuss nearly enough.

Elderly abuse is rarely discussed openly in African societies. Do you think it is a bigger problem than many people realise?

Absolutely. I think elderly abuse is one of the most under-recognised public health and social issues across many African societies. The abuse is not always physical. There is manipulation under the guise of love and protection, neglect, abandonment, emotional intimidation, financial exploitation, isolation, medical neglect, humiliation, or stripping elderly people of dignity and autonomy. Sometimes it is subtle. An elderly parent repeatedly ignored, left alone for long periods, mocked for memory decline, financially controlled or isolated from their social circle under the pretense of protection. Elderly abuse mostly perpetuated by spouses, loved ones and family members who they trust and not strangers. What makes it even more complex in African communities is that many elderly people remain silent because they fear becoming burdens to their children or families or abandoned by their spouse in old age. There is also cultural shame around speaking openly about family dysfunction.

Do you think Nigeria needs stronger legislation and protection around elderly care?

Without question. As our population ages, we can no longer rely solely on informal family structures without building proper systems and legal protections around elderly welfare. We need serious national conversations around elderly safeguarding, caregiver accountability, financial protection, access to healthcare, home-care standards, dementia protection, and protection against neglect and exploitation. Many countries already have safeguarding frameworks protecting vulnerable elderly people. Africa will increasingly need similar legislation as longevity increases and family structures evolve because ultimately, longevity without dignity is not success. A society should be judged not only by how it treats children, but also by how it treats its elderly population and I believe Africa must begin preparing for that future now.

Many Nigerians abroad or in senior careers struggle with balancing work and caring for ageing parents. Is that becoming more common?

Absolutely and many people are carrying that pressure silently. They are building careers, managing businesses, raising children, living across multiple countries, while also trying to support ageing parents emotionally, medically, and financially. I feel it myself. Once my phone rings from Nigeria unexpectedly, there is immediately a part of me that worries about my father. There is a guilt many professionals carry quietly but what matters most is intentionality and preparation.

Beyond medicine, what do you think contributes most to longevity?

Purpose. The people who age best often remain engaged with life emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or socially. Community, faith, movement, peace and stress reduction matter. Honestly, consistency matters more than extremes. Longevity is usually built quietly over decades.

What has your father taught you most at this stage of life?

That strength is not always loud. Sometimes strength is discipline, consistency, faith, endurance and adaptability. Watching him at 92 has made me appreciate that longevity is not purely biological, it is emotional, spiritual and relational.

Finally, what do you hope Nigerians begin to understand differently about ageing?

That ageing is not failure, it is privilege and how we care for elderly people says a great deal about us as a society. We need to stop treating elderly care only as crisis management and start treating healthy ageing as part of national health strategy. Ultimately, every single one of us hopes to grow old one day. The real question is, what kind of systems, families, and society will be waiting for us when we do?