The Colours of Well-being, a flagship event of Citisquare Africa, held recently, with the theme: ‘The Impact Of Burnout On Women Within The Workforce: Challenges And Solutions’.

The event was structured to address burnout by offering a combination of relaxation, strategic networking and investment opportunities.

In her keynote presentation, the Executive Director, Institute of Counselling in Nigeria, Dr. Tolu Oko-Igaire, said burnout is linked to mental health.

Oko-Igaire, commenting on ‘Promoting positive mental health through purposeful living: A strategy for overcoming burnout in the workplace’, listed factors that would help in dealing with the challenge, include letting out steam, drinking lots of water, exercising and self-awareness.

Managing Director of UAC, Oluyemi Oloyede, said the society put the woman under undue pressure because of the demand on her time – first at work where she is the Chief Executive or whatever role she plays and at home where she is a wife and a mother.

For him, “though the society expects the woman to be perfect, she will need to recognise her own strength to know when to seek help.”

Similarly, Group Managing Director, Medbury Healthcare, Dr Itunu Akinwale, advised all to recognise their stress level to know when to avoid burnout.

According to her, she trivialised the issue of burnout for many years until it happened to her, which led her to visit a wellness centre.

Highlights of the event included, wellness sessions, meditation workshops, spa treatment, panel discussion, networking sessions, exquisite culinary experience, Salsa dance, exhibitions and comedy sessions by Otolorin Kehinde Peter, popularly known as Kenny Blaq.

Convener of Colours of well-being, and Founder Citisquare Africa, Dr Uche Nnama, said in his closing remark that the need to prioritise one’s wellbeing necessitated the event and also to promote United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 3- Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5 – Gender Equality and SDG 8- Decent Work and Economic Growth.