Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday demonstrated his commitment to healthy living by leading a 15-minute fitness walk from his residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta to nearby streets and back. The exercise was part of activities marking this year’s World Diabetes Day, observed globally on November 14.
The former president, who turns 90 next year and has lived with diabetes for nearly four decades, was joined by medical professionals, security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Road Safety Corps, as well as members of the National Youth Service Corps.
Although Obasanjo declined to address journalists after the event, the Executive Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, Dr Olalekan Makinde, said his participation underscored the importance of physical activity in preventing and managing diabetes.
Makinde said, “Just like the almost 90-year-old former President Olusegun Obasanjo has shown us with his 15-minute brisk walk covering over three kilometres, what we are saying to Nigerians is that they must walk and engage in physical exercise to stay fit. Diabetes is one of the most challenging diseases caused by sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles. We must avoid junk food and embrace daily physical activity.”
He added that before Thursday’s walk, the former president had already completed another exercise session lasting between 30 minutes and an hour.
Also speaking, Dr Adedeji Otukoya, an endocrinologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, urged Nigerians to incorporate regular exercise into their daily routines, noting that lifestyle changes remain the best preventive measure against diabetes.
“We are seeing a surge in diabetes cases due largely to unhealthy living,” Otukoya said. “Nigerians must prioritise walking and other forms of exercise to keep their muscles active and maintain proper body function.”
Similarly, the Medical Officer in charge of the Ogun State Police Command’s Medical Directorate, Dr Ihegboro Minachiso, emphasised that simple physical activities like walking can significantly improve health outcomes.
“Many of us pray to live long, yet we neglect the small things that keep us healthy,” Minachiso, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, remarked. “We must all emulate former President Obasanjo and make brisk walking part of our routine. Medication helps, but lifestyle modification is the best remedy for many of our health challenges.”
Obasanjo has in the past spoken openly about living with diabetes, revealing in 2021 that he had managed the condition for over 35 years. Speaking at a youth diabetes awareness programme in Abeokuta that year, he said he always carried his medication and testing kits, while maintaining an active lifestyle through regular exercise.
He also expressed gratitude for his health and noted that many of his contemporaries had died from the disease due to poor management, urging diabetic patients to adhere strictly to medical advice and prescriptions.
