Lagos: A Safety Expert, Mrs Nafisat Adeniran, has urged workers to prioritise their health and physical fitness to improve their lifestyles. Adeniran is the Head of Safety at Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two. Adeniran warned that prolonged sitting and poor workplace posture could negatively affect productivity and overall well-being. She gave the advice during a workplace health and fitness programme organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lagos, with the theme: ‘Working Together for Health and Excellence’ on Saturday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adeniran emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy workforce as critical to achieving productivity and excellence. Bi-Courtney, she noted, had introduced initiatives to support employees in keeping fit, including engaging Bodyline Fitness Gym and subsidising membership fees for employees. This initiative allows staff members to work out either before or after their official working hours, encouraging them to be intentional about maintaining their physical fitness.
Adeniran, who spoke extensively on the health risks associated with sedentary work, identified prolonged sitting as one of the major workplace hazards facing office workers. She pointed out that many employees might not consider themselves exposed to occupational hazards because they worked in air-conditioned offices rather than construction sites or physically demanding environments. She urged workers to regard office chairs with caution and avoid remaining seated for extended periods without taking breaks.
Adeniran recommended that employees stand up and walk around regularly during working hours, including making deliberate efforts to use facilities such as restrooms located farther away from their workstations. She also advised workers to maintain proper sitting posture, with a 90-degree angle, backs supported, and feet flat on the floor, as improper chair height could contribute to back pain and other physical discomfort.
Furthermore, Adeniran encouraged incorporating simple exercises into daily routines to improve cellular energy, cognitive focus, and mood while reducing stress. She also advised staying hydrated and using opportunities during the workday to move around rather than remaining at desks continuously. Technological advancements and the rise of remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted, had increased the amount of time many workers spent sitting, creating new health challenges associated with prolonged inactivity.
Dr Dayo Osholowo, the Medical Director of Kasi Healthcare, praised the initiative for workers and for Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of taking 10,000 steps a day, as recommended by the World Health Organisation, to reduce the incidence of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and the overall disease burden on the health system. Osholowo highlighted Nigeria’s growing population, which is expected to pressure the public healthcare system, underscoring the need to take health issues seriously.
Mr Ali M. Ali, the Managing Director of NAN, also stressed the importance of promoting physical wellness among workers. Ali encouraged NAN staffers to make physical fitness and healthy living a regular part of their lives to improve their health and productivity, regardless of the job’s nature. He noted that at the NAN headquarters in Abuja, the official working time was shortened by one hour on Tuesdays and Fridays to enable workers to use the agency’s gym.
The Head of Lagos Operations, NAN, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, added that the exercise provided an opportunity for staff to learn healthy practices, such as proper sitting positions and taking regular breaks from computers and other gadgets to rest their eyes. NAN reports that this exercise is the maiden edition of NAN fitness work, in partnership with Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd.