Nigerians have been asked to engage in regular exercise for at least a minimum of 30 minutes for three to five times a week, owing to the attendant health and wellness benefits derivable from doing so.
Pharmacist Amid Olanrewaju Alege gave the advise during the maiden edition of the keep fit exercise for members of staff of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), at the premises of the institute, today Saturday August 21, 2021.
Led by the Director General, Comrade Issa Aremu, the participants jogged and walked round, and also undertook some flexibility exercises, to keep in shape.
The flexibility exercise was supervised by a keep fit Instructor, Oba Ish’aq Olayinka.
Pharmacist Alege said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is responsible for an estimated 1.9 million deaths worldwide.
“In spite of the known benefits of physical activity and exercise, as well as its accessibility to all, over 60 percent of all world population is not physically active enough to gain health benefits, and the actual figure for Nigeria may be higher’, he stressed.
“Apart from having regular exercise, it’s also necessary to do regular health checks, to ascertain our status at all times’, he added.
In his lecture tagged “Physical activity and regular exercise”, Pharmacist Alege highlighted some of the benefits of regular exercise to include enhancing physical, mental and social well-being, as well as improving the functioning of the heart and circulation, and protection of heart disease like coronary heart disease.
Also among the benefits are reduction in high blood pressure or the risk of developing it, improving muscular strength and helping to build bone density, reducing the risk of premature death and promotion of longevity of life, and it’s a powerful antidepressant, reduction of anxiety and stress.
The Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) however, advised that those with high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, joint pains or arthritis should see their Doctors before starting exercise.
He also added that regular exercise should be stopped if any pain or dizziness is developed.
Earlier in his address, the Director General, Comrade Issa Aremu said that the exercise will hold regularly, to keep members of staff of the institute fit for the challenges in the office and at home.
Pointing out that regular exercise prevents stress and fatigue, the notable Trade Unionist, Comrade Aremu pledged to fix all the dilapidated sporting facilities in the institute, and also, encourage participation in sports.
MINILS was established in 1990, as the only tripartite National Institution in the West African Sub-Region responsible for providing workers’ education.
