YABATECH Rector urges Nigerians to embrace walking culture 

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Lagos, Sept. 2026 (TBL Africa) The Rector, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Abdul Ibraheem, has urged Nigerians to revive the culture of walking to promote fitness and healthier living.

 

 

Ibraheem made the call on Monday in Lagos at the 2026 NUJ-NAN Press Week Health Walk organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Lagos chapel.

 

 

He said regular walking and physical activities were important for improving physical fitness and overall wellbeing.

 

 

According to him, Nigerians had gradually abandoned walking, preferring short-distance transportation even when their destinations were nearby.

 

 

“Why must we now take a bike or Keke (tricycle) everywhere we want to go? I think that habit of not trekking is killing us,” he said.

 

 

Ibraheem urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote walking as a key message of the press week, particularly among young people.

 

 

He said regular exercise was recommended for managing health conditions and maintaining good physical wellbeing.

 

 

“When you walk, you become alive. When you walk, all your vitals become better,” he added.

 

 

The rector also urged workplaces to create opportunities for workers to exercise and promote healthy living.

 

 

He said workers spent a significant part of their lives at their workplaces, making workplace fitness programmes important.

 

 

Ibraheem highlighted the benefits of walking outdoors, including exposure to fresh air and interaction with the natural environment.

 

 

He commended the NUJ-NAN for organising the health walk and partnering with YABATECH.

 

 

According to him, the institution is committed to partnerships that contribute to developing students and preparing them for the future.

 

 

Ibraheem also called for stronger collaboration between the Lions Club and YABATECH to support young people.

 

 

He declared the 2026 NUJ-NAN Press Week open after the health walk.

 

 

A YABATECH student, Johnson Miracle, from the Department of Mass Communication, said participating in the walk was an opportunity to support her department.

 

 

Miracle said the exercise also helped promote awareness about diabetes and wellness among participants.

 

 

“Health walk is beneficial for me personally, so it’s a win-win situation,” she said.

 

 

She said she regularly participated in athletics and played basketball to maintain physical fitness.

 

 

Miracle said activities such as the health walk could encourage more students to take physical fitness seriously.

 

 

She said staying fit provided opportunities to exercise, socialise and interact with other people.

 

 

Speaking on the significance of the health walk, NUJ-NAN Lagos Council Chairman, Yusuf Yunus, said it was designed to promote journalists’ health.

 

 

Yunus said journalists often focused on news gathering and headlines while neglecting their health.

 

 

He said the annual health walk provided an opportunity for journalists to check their health status and assess their fitness.

 

 

According to him, journalists faced health risks, including high blood pressure and diabetes, because of the demanding nature of their profession.

 

 

Yunus said the initiative had been organised for five years under his leadership to encourage journalists to prioritise their health.

 

 

He urged media organisations to introduce regular health checks for journalists to reduce cases of untimely deaths.

 

 

“Even if once a week, let them inculcate it into their curriculum in the newsroom, that every journalist must ensure that they know their status,” he said.

 

 

Yunus said media organisations with clinics should encourage staff to use them regularly for health monitoring.

 

 

He said the Lions Club also provided medical support, including health screening and free eyeglasses during the event.

 

 

Patience Ngene, District Governor, 404B4 Nigeria, said the Lions Club partnered with the NUJ-NAN to reach more people through health initiatives.

 

 

Ngene said the partnership had continued for three years and helped both organisations contribute to community development.

 

 

She said the Lions Club provided 500 eyeglasses for participants at the Lagos event.

 

 

Ngene said the programme also included blood pressure, blood glucose and eye screenings.

 

 

She said the Lions Club would flag off another eye-screening programme in Ibadan, with 1,000 eyeglasses available for residents.

 

 

Leticia Ojugberi-Okeyi, a paediatric nurse and Lion club member, said the medical screening aimed to sensitise participants about the need for regular health checks.

 

 

Ojugberi-Okeyi said some participants were found to have high blood pressure in spite of showing no obvious symptoms.

 

 

She advised journalists and other workers not to wait for annual events before checking their health.

 

 

She said regular medical checks could help people identify potential health problems early and seek appropriate medical attention.

 

 

The event brought together journalists, YABATECH management and students, Lions Club members and other participants.

 

 

The 2026 NUJ-NAN Press Week featured activities designed to promote professional interaction, healthy living and welfare among journalists.