Lagos: The Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) on Saturday urged business leaders to imbibe the culture of fitness and embrace work-life balance to unlock employees’ productivity and drive sustainable economic growth. The President of NBCC, Mr. Ray Atelly, made the call in Lagos during a health walk to commemorate the chamber’s 2025 Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) week.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Atelly emphasized that the event was an essential initiative dedicated to fostering a culture of safety, well-being, and environmental responsibility across workplaces and communities. He underscored the importance of a healthy workforce and a sustainable environment as the foundation of a thriving economy, noting that as industries evolve, the need for robust health and safety standards has become increasingly critical.
Atelly highlighted the unique opportunity presented by the week-long event for thought leadership, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing on best practices to drive safer work environments and a more sustainable future. He encouraged active participation from all attendees to exchange ideas and embrace the insights shared during the event, with the aim of creating a safer, healthier, and more responsible business landscape.
Mr. Gbite Falade, Managing Director of Aradel Holdings Plc, reinforced the significance of health and safety as a core dynamic of organizational operations. He pointed out the benefits of a 30-minute walk in keeping sickness at bay and stressed the importance of making it a daily habit for therapeutic, pleasure, and preventative purposes.
Mrs. Joke Bakare, Managing Director of Medplus, also advocated for regular checkups and urged business personnel to engage in more fitness exercises for better health outcomes. Dr. Ebere Njoku, Director-General of NBCC, called for a holistic approach tailored to individual needs and medical experiences to create work-life balance, emphasizing the role of fitness activities in de-stressing the workspace and enhancing coworker relationships.
Dr. Njoku further highlighted the importance of managing mental well-being and utilizing business exercises to release feel-good hormones necessary for proper balance. She pointed out that growing a business should not come at the expense of one’s general, emotional, and physical well-being, urging business leaders to keep an eye on their health while pursuing their business goals to fully enjoy the journey to success.
