By Joel Ajayi
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, has reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to sustaining a strong fitness culture, noting that regular exercise has significantly improved staff health, teamwork, and overall productivity.
Speaking during the Agency’s quarterly fitness walk on Saturday in Abuja, Ali said the initiative has become an essential part of NAN’s workplace culture, offering immense physical and mental health benefits.
He explained that the fitness sessions, introduced three editions ago, have strengthened team bonding, boosted staff morale, and created a friendlier work environment where hierarchy temporarily disappears.
“A team that exercises together is a team that achieves together. During our fitness walks, there are no titles. Everyone is simply a staff member. That camaraderie dissolves communication gaps and makes the organisation function better,” he said.
Beyond fostering unity, the programme has yielded measurable improvements in staff wellbeing.
According to him, the Agency’s clinic has recorded a noticeable decline in cases of malaria, high blood pressure, and other common ailments — a development he attributes to improved immunity and consistent physical activity.
“We run a functional clinic, and the reports show fewer cases of hypertension and general illness. Staff hardly come in for everyday complaints. Regular exercise has strengthened their immune systems,” he noted.
Ali added that NAN also operates a fully equipped gym, where staff train every Wednesday and Friday. To encourage participation, management reduces work hours on designated exercise days.
Given the high-pressure nature of journalism, he stressed that fitness is even more vital. “Ours is a demanding job. News gathering is stressful, and exercise helps us unpack that pressure,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to be more deliberate about physical activity, warning that sedentary lifestyles — worsened by city living and carbohydrate-heavy diets — accelerate health deterioration.
“The body is designed for movement. Even simple walking can improve cardiovascular health, blood circulation, mood, and general wellbeing,” he advised.
He encouraged Nigerians to walk more, climb stairs, reduce reliance on motorcycles and cars for short distances, and embrace healthy habits such as intermittent fasting.
Concluding, Ali praised staff performance during the exercise, noting that the 5.5km walk was completed faster than in previous editions — clear evidence of improved endurance and commitment.
In his remarks, NAN fitness instructor, Sunny Alamu, said regular exercise is crucial for media workers who spend long hours seated and glued to their computers.
“Because of the nature of their work, staff sit for long periods. Exercise helps open up their metabolism, improves circulation, and enhances overall health. A healthy worker is a more productive worker,” he said.
