A cross-section of participants at the road walk.
Close to 55,000 people drawn from across 47 countries may have joined the large and still rapidly growing army of visibly happy and enthusiastic members of not-for-profit, Waka Community International Foundation, as it held it’s 5th road walk aimed at promoting the health and wellness of Nigerians and others.
The 9.4km road walk, hosted in collaboration with Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative, also paid tribute to the late Dr Adetokunbo Alakija, a pioneer member of Waka and Managing Director of Q-Life. Dr Alakija was a strong advocate of health and wellness and his legacy continues to inspire others.
Titled, “Let’s Waka with Q-Life and HEI,” the leisure walk took off from Catholic Church Admiralty Road, Lekki through the Ikoyi link bridge, along Bourdillon and back to the church.
The walk comprised people of various ages, colours, tribes and religions, with several coming all the way from USA, Canada, Italy and Switzerland.
Donning colourful branded tee-shirts, participants strode purposefully and powerfully in the sunny morning air, and it was easy to see that they enjoyed the two-hour activity, secure in the knowledge of the importance of maintaining good health through physical activity.
According to the event organisers, not only is walking an inexpensive and low-impact activity enjoyable by all, it’s also non-discriminatory on grounds of age, gender, level of physical fitness or location.
While emphasizing the importance of walking in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the organisers encouraged participants to walk at least 30 minutes daily, eat healthy, hydrate well, and get adequate sleep.
“Walking is the oldest and safest form of physical exercise. It’s also the shortcut to great health as it helps prevent or manage various conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, glaucoma and type 2 diabetes,” an official of the organising team stated.
Lorenz Mba, founder of Waka Foundation the initiator of the programme, explained that the team’s gesture stems from the need “to inform, educate and persuade Nigerians as well as all residents of Nigeria and indeed the world, to take personal responsibility for their wellness.” In his view, health is wealth, and one must maintain regular lifestyle habits consistent with healthy lives.
Also read: How woman was jailed for letting 10-yr-old son walk alone
The Waka International App, which rewards users for walking, was also promoted during the event. The app aims to encourage people to make walking a part of their daily routine, promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
A participant, Adesina Mobarak, commended the organisers for a successful event, highlighting their commitment to ensuring the health of the citizenry.
He also expressed admiration for the energy of a 73-year-old man who led the warm-up session, describing it as a clear reminder that age is just a number.
Highlight of the event was the provision of free health checks to participants and the general public by the medical team of Q-Life Family Clinic as part of their social sustainability efforts. In previous editions, services rendered to the public have included health awareness campaigns, and the conduct of first responders’ training to arm people practically on steps to saving lives.
Support for the event came from PocariSweat drink, Veritas Kapital Assurance PLC, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Red Cross, FRSC, LASAMBUS, NCF and various Lagos State agencies.
As the world came together to walk for wellness, one thing was clear: the power of community and solidarity can drive meaningful change.
The Waka Foundation’s 5th road walk was a resounding success, inspiring people worldwide to take control of their health and wellbeing.
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