By Lilian U. Okoro
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday held its Lagos operations maiden edition Fitness Walk, bringing together staff, partners and stakeholders to create lasting bond and fraternity among members.
The event was held in partnership with Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd, with the theme: “Walking Together for Health and Excellence”.
Speaking during the event, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Ali M. Ali, said the exercise aimed to promote physical wellness, staff unity, and sustainable engagement.
Ali said the nature of journalism often doesn’t allow staff to take care of themselves, urging the staff to make physical fitness and healthy living a regular part of their lives to improve their health and productivity at work.
He explained that NAN introduced fitness walks to promote wellness among its staff across the country, adding that similar exercise was been held in Abuja on quarterly basis.
He urged NAN workers in Lagos and other parts of the country to embrace fitness as a lifestyle rather than an occasional activity.
“The demanding nature of journalism makes it important for journalists to pay attention to their physical and mental well-being. A healthy workforce is key to productivity.
“The exercise is not only about physical fitness but also about building teamwork, bonding and camaraderie among staff across different departments.
“In Abuja headquarters, the official working time is shorten by one hour on Tuesdays and Fridays to enable workers to use the agency’s gym,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Lagos Operations, NAN, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, reiterated that good health was essential for journalists because of the demanding nature of journalism profession.
Omowole said the exercise also provided an opportunity for staff to learn healthy practices, including proper sitting positions and taking regular breaks from computers and other gadgets to rest their eyes.
She urged workers to embrace activities that could help them stay healthy without necessarily spending much money, especially as the cost of medication continues to rise.
“The fitness walk, which will be a quarterly exercise strengthens relationships among staff, particularly those from different locations who previously knew one another only by name,” she said.
Also, the Head of Safety, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Mrs Nafisat Adeniran, encouraged workers to prioritise their health, stressing that fitness improves both well-being and productivity.
Adeniran said Bi-Courtney had supported staff fitness through subsidised gym memberships and regular endurance exercises, advising NAN staff against prolonged sitting in view of its health implications.
She emphasised need for NAN staff and members of the public to be more intentional about their health.
Earlier, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee and Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NAN, Mr Kevin Okunzuwa, said the fitness walk was designed to take journalists away from the pressure and routine of their demanding jobs.
“The exercise creates an opportunity for staff, partners and security agencies to relax, interact and build stronger relationships,” he said.
The Business Development Personnel, Alfa Design Nigeria, Ltd, Ugochi Onyeabo, reaffirmed commitment to partnerships that promote fitness and healthy living, while introducing an app – “Genesis New Vision” that functions inline with that vision.
Other partners in attendance at the event included the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA).
The fitness walk provided an opportunity for NAN staff, management, partners and veterans of the agency to interact, exercise and strengthen team spirit, featuring medical checks and a raffle draw.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu