ABEOKUTA — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday led about 100 senior citizens on a 2.5-kilometre fitness walk in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of efforts to promote healthy and active ageing.
The exercise was organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Senior Citizens Club as part of its regular keep-fit programme.
Obasanjo, who personally participated in the walk, used the occasion to encourage older Nigerians to make regular exercise an important part of their daily lives, stressing that staying physically active could contribute significantly to healthier and more fulfilling old age.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, and made available to journalists on Sunday, the former President described the walk as both an awareness campaign and a practical demonstration aimed at encouraging senior citizens to remain active.
Speaking during the event, Obasanjo said the club was established for senior citizens aged 70 and above, noting that he himself was approaching the age bracket.
He said the initiative was designed to demonstrate that growing older should not prevent people from maintaining an active lifestyle.
“The essence of this, you can see that they are senior citizens; they are young Papas and Mamas. Normally, you can only be a member of the club unless you are 70 and above and I am just getting to that age.”
According to him, regular exercise is vital to ensuring that people age in good health and remain capable of living active and meaningful lives.
“The idea is to show and to encourage and to let people know that in growing old, exercise is a vital element to make sure that you grow old gracefully, graciously and in a way that even when you are old, you are still able to live the way you should live.”
Obasanjo also drew attention to the fitness of some of the elderly participants, using them as examples of the benefits of remaining physically active.
He added that the exercise was intended not only as a fitness activity but also as encouragement and advice to senior citizens and members of the wider public.
The former President said, “It is an exercise and encouragement and as advice for people. You can see this is Mama and Baba. This Baba is 90 and, as you can see him looking fit, fit.”
The President of the OOPL Senior Citizens Club, Group Captain Ayobamiji Erinfolami (rtd.), commended Obasanjo for his commitment to the initiative and for leading the participants by example.
Erinfolami said the former President’s personal participation in the exercise demonstrated his dedication to the wellbeing of senior citizens.
Also speaking, Elder Udo Umoren, a close aide to Obasanjo, described the walk as an important source of motivation for the elderly.
He said the exercise was “the needed tonic to keep us going” and praised Obasanjo for continuing to inspire members of the club as they advance in age.
The event reinforced the message that age should not be a barrier to physical activity, social engagement and healthy living, with Obasanjo and other participants demonstrating that active ageing can remain an achievable goal well into old age.
