By Ebere Agozie
Mr Afam Okeke, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja (Unity Bar) has called lawyers to engage in regular exercise for their physical and mental well-being.
Okeke made the call during the Health Walk organised by the NBA Abuja Unity Bar as part of its activities to mark the NBA 2026 law week.
He said that the initiative beautifully reflected the branch’s commitment to the holistic well-being of legal practitioners and to raise awareness about the need for people to prioritise preventive measures against prevailing health challenges among colleagues.
“We are getting to those thresholds in terms of age, so we need quite a lot of attention to our health.
“Theirs is a need to encourage the society and our members to attend to their health with all seriousness, because, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
“You’ll be surprised that some of us have not engaged in this kind of activity in the last couple of months or even a year.
“We are facing a lot of challenges in the world today and there’s a tendency for every one of us to neglect adequate attention to what is required to take good care of our health’’.
He charged Nigerians to ensure that they engage in regular body exercise to keep fit and ensure longevity.
The former chairman reiterated that such activities improve physical and mental health while fostering social connections in the society.
“The event is more than just a fitness activity; it was a thoughtful reminder that a healthy mind and body are essential to effective legal practice and meaningful service delivery.
“From the walk itself to the fun games, networking opportunities, and on-site medical checks, the initiative promoted wellness, preventive health awareness, and camaraderie among members of the Bar’’.
Okeke called for a more sustainable approach to promoting a healthy work-life balance among legal practitioners and Nigerians in general.
“Legal practitioners work under tight schedules that do not promote health; our commitments are overwhelmingly skewed in favour of work at the expense of our well-being.
“Balancing work and life helps to reduce stress levels, allowing us to approach our task with a clearer mind and greater focus”.
He commended the Unity Bar for such a laudable initiative.
“I particularly commend the Branch for creating an atmosphere that encouraged relaxation, unity, and work-life balance that emphasizes the importance of our health as professionals.
“It is inspiring to see colleagues come together outside the courtroom and office environment to connect, recharge, and strengthen professional bonding ”.
NAN reports that the theme of the law week is:, “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democratic Process” .
The bar’s is making a strong call to collective responsibility in preserving the rule of law, justice, and democratic values .(NAN)
