The Founder, Waka Community International Foundation, Lorenzo Mba has urged Nigerians to embrace walking to help prevent or manage conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Mba gave the advice on Saturday in Lagos during a walk event with Q-life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to honour Dr Ade Alakija.
The late Alakija, who passed in 2022, was the Chairman of, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) Board.
The Waka founder added that walking also helped improve cardiovascular fitness.
He said the walk, in its third edition, was held to immortalise Alakija who wore many caps and was a pioneer member of Waka Community International Foundation.
“Today’s walk and free health check for interested participants and the public is driven by our conviction that a healthy Nigeria is a wealthy Nigeria.
“It provides us with the opportunity to inform, educate and persuade Nigerians and indeed the world, to take personal responsibility for their wellness by walking, eating right, hydrating well, getting enough quality sleep.
“And for those above 45, some strength training to maintain muscle mass which is essential for aging healthily,” he said.
Mba also encouraged Nigerians to walk a minimum of 30 minutes daily, eat healthy in small portions, drink lots of water and get adequate sleep to be fitter, leaner, healthier and ultimately happier.
He described walking as the oldest and safest form of physical exercise that was non-discriminatory on grounds of age, gender, level of physical fitness or location.
“We encourage everyone to walk indoors or outdoors depending on choice, safety or convenience.
“Walking is also inexpensive as one can walk bare feet indoors and on beaches,” he said.
The Executive Director, Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), Mr Paschal Achunine said walking was a call to healthy living without strain.
He said HEI would continue to train first responders and enlighten the general public on practical steps to save lives.
“Exercise is an escape route for certain diseases and calling people’s attention to exercise is a noble move that the late Alakija stood for,” he said.
Ola Alakija, younger brother to the late Alakija, said the honorary walk ensured that his legacy and memory was preserved.
He added that exercising was a great form of tribute to him particularly in view of his passion to bring health to the world.
NAN
