A major milestone for Nigeria’s ageing population was achieved on 20 November 2025 with the launch of a new digital and community-based eldercare ecosystem in Akure, Ondo State.
Led by Nurse Coach Olayinka Aremu — an African-Irish Assistant Professor of General Nursing at the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems — the project was inspired by her experience caring for her elderly mother from abroad and the need for structured, person-centred eldercare in Africa.
The initiative introduces a tech-enabled model with AI assessments, telehealth, home and community care, family dashboards, wellness kits, workforce training, and plans for integrated care hubs across Nigeria.
The event gathered senior policymakers, healthcare leaders, royal fathers, and community stakeholders. An Advisory Board chaired by Professor Amanda Phelan (Ireland) was also unveiled.
Highlights included a digital-care expo, free assessments, Smart Care Packages for seniors, and the inauguration of Care Action Ambassadors and the Elders in Care Council.
🔗 www.agewellcarelink.com
Olayinka Aremu grew up in Ondo State, Nigeria. One of thirteen children in a family of scholars and entrepreneurs, she was raised in a household that valued education, resilience, and purpose.
Olayinka holds a BSc in Nursing (2012) from Obafemi Awolowo University, followed by Midwifery and Public Health Nursing qualifications, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (2015), and an MSc in Community Health Nursing (2017, distinction). Her MSc thesis explored adolescent reproductive health service use.
She taught nursing in Nigeria before moving to Ireland, gaining experience in elder and acute care at Bray, Mater Hospital Dublin, and Connolly Hospital Dublin. Appointed Assistant Professor at UCD School of Nursing in January 2024, she is completing a PhD at Dublin City University on co-designing a care transition tool for older adults.
