The need for inclusive and enhanced physical and health education systems have been advocated as the ideal way of living a healthy lifestyle.
This was the focus of the presentations of Physical Health Education experts at the one-day awareness programme organised by the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education Recreation Sports and Dance (NAPHER SD), Kwara State chapter, held at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex in Ilorin today Wednesday June 11, 2025.
The one-day event, which was aimed at resuscitating the activities of the association and strengthening its agenda in the state, featured road walk, aerobics, and health talks.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Magaji commended the association for the programme, and tasked them to explore sponsorship opportunities that will be of mutual benefit for future program.
“I want to thank the organisers for this event. I also used to be a member and I believe the event today has raised the level of awareness about the significance of physical health education in ensuring a healthy living. So, I would like to urge the association to continue in this direction” Magaji said.
During the health talk, which was held at the Eight-wing squash court of the Stadium Complex, Professor Leah Dominic from the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of Ilorin urged the members of the association to live up to the values of the profession as physical health education Instructors and Advocates.
The University Don, in her remarks titled “Exercise And Sports Professionals’ Health and Well-being Priority – the clients of professionals,” highlighted the need for members to inspire excellence through their practice and stress the importance of mental, social and physiological health.
She stated “You as a professional must prioritise your own health and must be on top of the game. You must not only serve your clients and must be role models to your athletes and students. It’s also important for you to discourage drug-induced performance for athletes so that they can have holistic growth.
In his own presentation, titled “Optimising performance: the interplay between nutrition, hydration, exercise and sleep, Professor Lanre Olaitan from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education at the University of Ilorin warned that a haphazard approach to wellness could be counter-productive for physical and health system.
He encouraged a routinely planned approach in nutrition, exercise, food intake, and sleeping in order to achieve the desired goals and objectives.
The Kwara State Chairman of the NAPHER-SD, Professor Arimiyau Akanji Sanusi commended all the members for trooping out en masse for the one-day event.
While describing the event as a landmark in the history of the association in the state, he noted that the outing is expected to put the body on the path of total resuscitation following its inactiveness over the last few years.
He said “We are happy to be here today to witness this event. This is the third attempt at hosting the programme, and we thank God that it’s successful because it’s one the wishes of our founding fathers and it’s now happening”
Professor Akanji, who was visibly elated, disclosed that the association will further set in motion plans to bring in new executives, constitution, and a blueprint that will further set the body on the path of prosperity.
While urging all the members to be united in purpose, the Chairman revealed that the association is also working to create leadership structure across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State in order to drive the transformation from bottom to the top.
Some of the guests at the event also include Professor Tajudeen Ibrahim, the Director of Sports at the University of Ilorin, Jimoh Bashir, former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kwara chapter, Mr. Wale Obalola, a strong member of NAPHER-SD and the Secretary of Kwara United amongst other notable personalities.
