Osun NUJ Press Week: NSCDC Boss Charges Journalists On Regular Exercise

–Recommends Regular Training For Journalists, Mass Comm Students

By Wumi Ajibogun

A Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Hammed Abodunrin, has charged media practitioners on the need to engage in regular exercises to promote health alertness and fitness.

Abodunrin, a former Secretary of Nigeria Union of journalists in Osun State gave the charge at a Health Walk organised as part of the activities making the year 2023 Press Week.

CityMirrorNews reports that over 100 members of the Osun NUJ engaged in the exercise from the Press Centre through Oke-fia-Alekuwodo, Osogbo, Osun State capital.

The health walk has Abodunrin and Osun NUJ chairman, Com Wasiu Ajadosu, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, Osun State Commissioner for Political affairs, Amusa Sheed Olalekan, Osogbo South LCDA, Director of Monipoint Microfinance and members of the union walking for about ten kilometers.

Abodunrin who described the walk as a great and eye opener also recommend physical training for both media practitioners and mass communication students in the tertiary institutions.

“Talking about the event of today this is great. I will say it’s an eye opener particularly for media practitioners and that we should keep fit because it’s the person that is on a sound body that can host a sound mind.

“Having a sound mind without sound body is like not having the sound mind at all and because of the nature of our work, because of what journalists do, moving up and down and they need to be fit to be able to carry out the activities that is expected of them.

“More importantly, journalists also cover dangerous assignments and they may also need to run, they also need to lay flat and that is why we are advocating now that teaching of mass communication in schools will also involve sophisticated exercise on how journalists can also stay safe.

“Some of these programmes have started and we will keep on doing it. Infact, the union level, training journalists on how to stay safe particularly during dangerous assignments so to have an agile body, a body that is fit.

Emphasizing the need for regular physical exercise, the NSCDC Commandant said: “My advise is that we should key into it because many of the disease that we have today, if you’re agile and do excerise that will make you to sweat once in a day, we can keep those disease off.

Speaking, Osun NUJ chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu said the exercise is very important as it’s a natural way to promotes healthy living.

According to Ajadosu, that health walk was good for all especially journalists.

He said that the type of work journalists do which was round the clock, as a result of the birth of new media, requires regular exercise.

Also speaking, Chairperson of this year health walk committee, Comrade Wumi Olaniyi said: “Sweat is good for us all especially from the walk as it promotes good health, burning calories.

Olaniyi said that the health of the people was important, adding that only a healthy people `can promote wealth distribution

She therefore appreciated members of the health walk committee and the donors and entire members of the union for their commitment towards the success of the programme