Dr. Christopher Otabor, Chief Medical Director & CEO Alliance Hospital & Services Ltd. , represented by Dr. Olowu Margaret O., Consultant Family Physician, Alliance Hospital & Services Ltd., She commended the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT, for spearheading a timely public health awareness campaign, describing the initiative as both necessary and impactful in the current national climate.
Comrade Philip Shaibu, DG NIS gave the commendation while serving as the Chairman of the occasion at the 2026 Public Health Awareness and Wellbeing Conference, organized by the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in collaboration with Alliance Hospital and Dr. Physiq Global Health & Wellness Centre, held at the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat, Utako, Abuja.
Speaking about the conference theme, “Products Integrity, Regulatory Compliances, and Safety Standards – tackling critical challenges in product safety, patients trust, and public health protection,” Dr. Olowu emphasized the urgency of prioritizing health in everyday life.
“Our health is critical, owing to the situation we find ourselves in today. It demands regular medical check-ups because our mental health and stability are essential to our daily living,” he said. “Whether you like it or not, health is wealth.”
ROLE OF JOURNALISTS
Educate the public Combat misinformation
Promote healthy behaviors
“When you report health stories, you are not just informing, you are saving lives.”
STATISTICS:
HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)
About 30.6% of Nigerian adults have hypertension
About 30.9% have pre-hypertension (at risk of developing it)
Nearly 1 in 3 Nigerians has high blood pressure—and the risk is higher in cities
STATISTICS:
OBESITY & OVERWEIGHT IN NIGERIA
About 20–35% of Nigerian adults are overweight
About 8–22% are obese
Urban residents have higher rates:
Overweight: 27.2% (urban) vs 16.4% (rural)
Obesity: 14.4%
