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Corporate leaders have been urged to prioritise physical and mental well-being as a strategic imperative for boosting productivity, innovation and sustainable organisational growth. The call was made at a ‘Walk For Life’ wellness exercise, put together by the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) in Lagos.
Themed, ‘From Burnout To Bloom: Recharge, Reconnect & Restore,’ the President/Chairman of CIoD, Otunba Oyebanji stressed that a healthy workforce remains one of the most valuable assets any organisation can possess.
“We believe we need a healthy body and mind; if you have a healthy body without a healthy mind there is a problem. Corporate leaders are always in a stressful environment. Nigeria itself is a stressful place, so with the exercise we did and lectures on stress management given to us today, we believe we can do better,” he said.
He implored members of the Institute and Nigerians to continue with regular exercise to keep fit. “We all should take responsibility for our lives and do the needful. For us, we will sustain this exercise,” he assured.
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On her part, the Chairman, Health and Social Services Sectoral Group of the Institute, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, warned that stress and burnout could weaken corporate leaders in the boardroom and affect organisational productivity. “Health is not just semantics, it’s important we take care of our health, walk and live the best life we can in life,” she advised.
Addressing participants at the session, the guest speaker, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, consultant psychiatrist, advised Nigerians to be mindful of what they do, the steps they take and ensure their mind and body are at optimum level at all times. “We must be mindful of what we eat and ensure we sleep well. Burnout is an occasional health phenomenon that happens when people are stressed and may never recover from it, which causes low energy levels and other consequences. So, people must be conscious about their well-being,” she added.
At the session, Nigerians are reminded that a healthy body and sound mind enhances employees’ focus, creativity, resilience and overall performance, while reducing stress, absenteeism and workplace burnout.
The Institute challenged business executives to invest more in wellness initiatives, preventive healthcare and supportive work environments, arguing that employee well-being is no longer a welfare issue but a critical driver of business success and long-term competitiveness.
