James Sowole reporting from Abeokuta.

Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, marked World Diabetes Day with a walk. The event, a short loop around his Presidential Library, aimed to promote exercise as a key preventative measure against diabetes.

Obasanjo, a diabetes patient for over four decades, wasn’t alone. Medical professionals, security personnel, and National Youth Service Corps members joined him. The goal: to spotlight the importance of physical activity.

Dr. Olalekan Makinde of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation emphasized the simple but powerful message. Nigerians, he suggested, need to embrace a more active lifestyle to manage the risk of diabetes. It’s a compelling image, Obasanjo, nearing 90, leading by example.

Makinde points out that a sedentary lifestyle contributes significantly to health problems like diabetes. Convenience, like constant vehicle use, comes at a cost. Perhaps, a shift toward prioritizing movement is needed.

Nigeria’s lower life expectancy connects, in part, to these unhealthy habits. Obasanjo’s message, then, resonates beyond just diabetes awareness. It’s a call for a national health re-evaluation. A longer walk might have amplified the message, yet every step counts.

Endocrinologist Dr. Adedeji Otukoya echoed this sentiment, urging people to reconsider their daily routines. Sometimes, leaving the car behind is the best prescription. The rising diabetes rates highlight the urgency of this shift.

Police Assistant Commissioner Dr. Ihegboro Minachiso put it bluntly: people often neglect the very things that ensure their well-being. Obasanjo’s commitment serves as a reminder. Lifestyle changes, he asserts, are paramount, even more so than medication in some instances. It raises a question: how much responsibility rests on individuals versus systemic public health initiatives?

This isn’t just about a former president’s walk. It’s about a call for preventative healthcare measures in a nation grappling with increasing health challenges. Will the message translate into tangible lifestyle changes? Only time will reveal the impact of these steps.