i-Fitness urges Nigerians to make exercise a daily habit

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-Fitness, Foluso Ogunwale, has urged Nigerians to prioritise regular exercise, saying the demands of work should not come at the expense of their health.

Ogunwale spoke at i-Fitness GameFest 2.0 on Saturday at Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, where six branches shared seven titles across football, sprinting, tug of war and sack races.

The Mainland Edition brought together members from 14 branches under the theme “Different Squad, Unstoppable Together”. It followed the first edition, which featured the fitness chain’s Island branches.

Ogunwale said the competition reflected the company’s aim of helping people develop lasting exercise habits while building relationships through fitness.

“When we started i-Fitness, our goal was to build a community of people who choose to live healthier lives. GameFest is where you see that community at its best,” he said.

He explained that i-Fitness began operations 11 years ago to improve access to affordable fitness facilities and encourage more Nigerians to adopt active lifestyles.

He urged young people, in particular, to make time for their physical well-being alongside their careers and other commitments.

“No matter how busy you get, your health is something you have to prioritise yourself. That is why we put the ‘I’ in i-Fitness, meaning ‘my fitness’. At the end of the day, if you have all the money and you are not healthy, it is as good as having nothing.”

Ogunwale also stressed the value of maintaining muscle strength as people grow older.

“If you are active and you are working out, you are building muscle; you help yourself not just in the now, but in the future,” he said.

Head of Corporate Sales and Partnerships at i-Fitness, Nwafor, said regular physical activity could support cardiovascular health, strengthen bones and muscles, improve blood sugar regulation and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

He also discussed sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, explaining that strength training could help slow the decline and support independence in later life.

Nwafor encouraged Nigerians to incorporate walking, running and strength exercises into their routines. He added that partnerships could help fitness organisations connect with more people.

“A lot of those collaborations like this event, it brings together with the partners that we manage, people who want to grow their fitness brand and the effect of fitness in Nigeria,” he said.

On the pitch, Opebi won the male football competition, with Magodo finishing second. Ago Palace took the female title ahead of Acme.

Yaba secured both 100-metre titles. Surulere finished second in the male final, while Ikorodu claimed the runner-up position in the female race.

Gbagada won the tug-of-war competition ahead of Iponri. In the male sack race, Egbeda finished first and Magodo second. Surulere won the female sack race, with Egbeda taking second place.

The contests gave members opportunities to test their fitness outside their usual gym sessions, with individual performances contributing to their branches’ results.

Participant Alma Oputa said regular workouts had improved her physical strength over the past three years.

“My body, my physique and my strength have significantly changed since I started working out over three years ago,” Oputa said.

“I used to sprint in secondary school and university, so I am physically strong. I rarely fall sick, and when I go for full-body checkups, things are always okay. I do it because I want to grow old and stay strong.”

Another participant, Delight Bekee, encouraged people to take part in sports even if they had no intention of becoming professional athletes.

“I do sports as a hobby and not as a profession, so I advise people to always check their health and exercise regularly. Exercise enhances every part of your life,” Bekee said.

The organisers said GameFest was designed to combine exercise with social interaction, giving members, staff and other fitness enthusiasts a shared reason to remain active.

Lead partners were Wema Bank and Brila FM, which served as the official sports media partner. Other supporters included Pocari Sweat, Red Bull, Rexona, Nirvana Water, MOL, Cold Stone Creamery, Pinkberry, Zayith Food Company, Uncover and Cosmo Cosmetics.

Ogunwale said the company planned to make GameFest a regular event and extend the competition to Abuja and Port Harcourt.