Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan- Enoh has called on public servants to imbibe the culture of physical fitness so as to ensure a more productive and healthy nation.
The minister gave the charge at the October edition of the monthly keep-fit aerobics exercise ahead of the 2023 Federal Public Service Games (FEPSGA). He said the ministry was ready to partner with any organisation to develop programmes that will encourage sports development in the country.
“Through effective collaboration between the Ministry and FEPSGA, we can come up with initiatives that target both the male and female adults in the Public Service.
” This will encourage them to cultivate a culture of physical fitness and health consciousness”, he said. Enoh said that physical fitness and health education are integral components of a thriving and prosperous nation.He explained that one of the vital elements that Nigerians as a people continually miss in the sports sector is the physical fitness component.
“The Health Organization (WHO) some years ago focused on the benefits of fitness, and physical activity in its guide to all nations. Its benefits to healthy living are enormous,” he said.
The minister urged the leadership of FEPSGA to come out with advocacy towards encouraging Federal workers to imbibe the culture of physical activity and health consciousness.
The minister was decorated as the Captain of the 2023 FEPSGA aerobics exercise. Owsn-Enoh said that physical fitness will not only increase the physical and mental state of an individual at the optimal, but also the productive capacity of the workers in line with global realities.
Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan said an able workforce will be a productive workforce. She was represented by Dr Comfort Adeosun, Director, Occupational Hazard and Safety Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
The Head of service stressed the importance of being healthy for optimal productivity. “If you are not healthy, your performance will be low, thus affecting efficient service delivery to the citizenry,” she said.
Mr Aloku Amebi, President, FEPSG said the monthly exercise was one of the cardinal programmes of FEPSGA. Amebi ssid is aimed at improving physical fitness and general well-being of all cadres in the Public Service.
He said that October edition marks the end of the keep-fit aerobics exercise for the year, becuase of preparation for the 2023 annual Public Service Games billed to hold in December.
