By Dalena Reporters — Abeokuta, Nigeria
In a powerful public demonstration for diabetes awareness, former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday led a symbolic health walk in Abeokuta to commemorate World Diabetes Day, encouraging Nigerians to take charge of their health through exercise, healthy diet and preventive care. The walk, organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in conjunction with health agencies, drew hundreds of participants and served as a visible call to action amid rising concerns about non-communicable diseases.
Addressing the crowd at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Obasanjo—himself a person living with diabetes—warned that the disease need not be a death sentence if properly managed. He recounted that despite his decades-long diagnosis, he remains active and in good health, attributing his well-being to disciplined lifestyle choices. “With the right food, regular exercise, and adherence to your medication, diabetes is not something that should kill,” he declared, urging Nigerians not to be careless.
Obasanjo noted that many young Nigerians are increasingly sedentary and rely heavily on processed foods, factors he said contribute to the country’s growing diabetes burden. He demonstrated the point by keeping pace with younger participants in the walk and joking that many of them struggled to keep up. The event covered a two-kilometre route starting from the library and traversing key streets in the city centre before returning to the starting point.
Health experts at the event used the occasion to highlight troubling national trends: rapid urbanisation, inadequate physical activity, dietary shifts toward high sugar and high fat foods, and limited public awareness of early-stage diabetes symptoms. Free screenings and educational sessions were held alongside the walk, where participants received glucose tests, blood pressure checks and counselling on how to prevent and manage Type 2 diabetes.
The Foundation announced that it will roll out a nationwide screening campaign targeting 10 million Nigerians over the coming 12 months, aiming to identify undiagnosed cases and link patients to care. The initiative will partner with state health ministries, private labs and telemedicine platforms to increase access in underserved areas. Obasanjo reaffirmed the project’s goals: “Let us build a healthy Nigeria where prevention is as strong as cure.”
Reflecting on his personal journey, Obasanjo shared that he was diagnosed more than 30 years ago and credited his survival and active lifestyle to consistent monitoring and discipline. He appealed for a shift in mindset: “Diabetes does not kill the man who takes care of himself.” His remarks resonated with audiences who applauded his candid admission and used it as a rallying cry for better self-care.
The walk also featured government health officials, traditional rulers, and community groups, who pledged to promote healthy-living campaigns within schools, workplaces and communities. The Commissioner for Health in Ogun State promised to collaborate with the Foundation to expand outreach and integrate diabetes education into primary health-care centres.
As Nigeria faces multiple health system pressures—from communicable to non-communicable diseases—Obasanjo’s initiative underscores the importance of preventive efforts. Observers say that such high-profile advocacy can shift public attention and resources toward lifestyle-related risk factors that have long been overshadowed by infectious-disease priorities.
The event concluded with him calling on young people especially to adopt daily physical activity, reduce intake of sugary beverages and processed snacks, and seek regular health check-ups. He closed by stating: “This is our life. Let us manage it together.”
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