Lagos: Medical professionals on Saturday urged directors and business leaders to prioritise their mental and physical wellbeing to prevent burnout, improve decision-making and strengthen corporate governance. They made the call at the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria’s ‘Walk for Life’ event in Lagos, with the theme: ‘From Burnout to Bloom: Recharge, Reconnect and Restore.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a Consultant Physician at Iwosan Euracare Family Medicine, Dr Babafemi Adenuga, described burnout as an occupational condition resulting from chronic workplace stress that is not effectively managed. He noted that burnout goes beyond ordinary tiredness and affects physical health, emotional wellbeing, and workplace productivity. Adenuga highlighted data showing that about 57 per cent of Nigerians experienced daily stress, while between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of workers faced workplace-related mental health challenges. He also referenced studies during the COVID-19 pandemic indicating that about 49 per cent of doctors in Lagos experienced burnout.
Adenuga explained that prolonged burnout increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, weakens the immune system, impairs concentration, and reduces professional effectiveness. He identified persistent exhaustion, irritability, poor concentration, social withdrawal, increased dependence on stimulants, recurrent illnesses, and declining workplace performance as common warning signs. Adenuga attributed the high incidence of burnout in Nigeria to long commuting hours, poor infrastructure, economic pressures, toxic workplace cultures, and societal attitudes that equate vulnerability with weakness.
He stressed that recovery required adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, regular exercise, meaningful social connections, stress management, and clear work-life boundaries. ‘Energy management is more important than time management. Sustainable success requires recovery and strong leaders know when to rest,’ he said. Adenuga urged organisations to integrate employee wellbeing into performance indicators, conduct regular staff wellness assessments, and create psychologically safe workplaces.
A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Gbonjubola Abiru, pointed out that many professionals experiencing burnout were often unaware of the condition because they overlooked its early symptoms. She identified poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits, irritability, social withdrawal, and emotional exhaustion as early indicators of burnout. Abiru urged workers to cultivate healthy habits, maintain social relationships, and practise what she described as ‘mental hygiene’ to preserve their mental and physical wellbeing.
The President of CIoD Nigeria, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, noted that the growing demands of leadership had led many directors to neglect their health while pursuing organisational excellence. According to him, healthy directors are essential for building resilient boards and sustainable institutions. He stated that physically fit, mentally alert, and emotionally resilient directors were better positioned to provide sound judgment, strategic oversight, and ethical leadership. ‘Healthy directors build healthy boards, and healthy boards build resilient institutions. This event is much more than a fitness walk. It is a call to action for every director and leader to embrace healthier living, manage stress more intentionally, and prioritise personal wellbeing with the same diligence devoted to corporate performance,’ he said.
Chairperson of the CIoD Health and Social Services Sectoral Group, Dr Pamela Ajayi, remarked that the initiative aimed at raising awareness of the impact of stress and burnout on directors’ health and corporate decision-making. According to her, directors experiencing burnout may unknowingly make poor boardroom decisions with consequences for organisations and the wider economy. Ajayi encouraged directors to adopt regular physical exercise, particularly walking, as part of preventive healthcare. ‘Walking is an important part of staying healthy, and we want directors to understand the need to take care of themselves,’ she said.