I-Fitness, one of the nation’s fastest-growing fitness firm on Saturday opened a modern branch worth about N700 million to provide residents of Abuja with healthy lifestyle.
The founder, I-Fitness, Mr Foluso Ogunwale, at the inauguration of the centre in Gwarinpa area of FCT said that the investment would help to instill the culture of health and wellness amongst Nigerians.
Ogunwale said the was the 16th among the various branches opened by the firm, adding that the Wuse Zone 5 branch would soon come onboard.
He said that the company’s decision to open the two new outlets in Abuja was borne out of the desire to ensure easy access to lifestyle facilities.
According to him, this has become imperative because the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2021 report stated that non-communicable diseases account for 71% of global deaths.
He said that at the top of the list of these non-communicable diseases are: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and respiratory diseases, adding that cardiovascular diseases alone kill over 27 million people yearly.
He said that physical inactivity and harmful lifestyle habits are the leading causes of these health problems.
”So, as you know I-fitness is currently West Africa’s fastest growing fitness chain, helping people to live healthy and provide the enabling environment.
“The idea is to make fitness a thing that is very common to build that culture of fitness and wellness among the people of Abuja and create a real social destination point for people around here.
”We have had a lot concentration in Lagos and we are quite excited because this is the first time we are coming outside Lagos, we are opening in Gwarimpa today and we plan to have up to three to four centres in Abuja.
“The government should do its bit and the private sector would have to do its bit and that is where the partnership comes in, so for us, this is our way to show that fitness is part of the healthcare delivery system .
“This is preventive health and since we are part of the system, it is partnership so doing our bit counts a lot because in Abuja, we are going to be touching thousands of lives.”
Ogunwale said that every I-Fitness facility provides an enabling, fun, and Friendly environment, encouraging physical fitness and healthy living.
He said that I-fitness is about community and bonding people together and building friendship, adding that being a member would grant one access to all its other 15 branches.
Ogunwale said that the company planed a digital platform to assist people who cannot make it to the gym to keep fit especially those at the grassroots at an affordable price .
He advised Nigerians to spend the Easter holiday with fitness in mind, adding that “fitness and wellness are our personal responsibilities, whereas you can delegate work to people, you cannot delegate your personal fitness.”
Ms Nnenna Onyewuchi, Board Member, I-fitness encouraged women especially married one to keep fit, adding that “it is not about your husbands, it is about you.”
Accorsing to Onyewuchi, the healthier people are, the happier they become and the more energy they will have to be able to do the things that they want to do because health is wealth.
She added that the healthier citizens are, the stronger and more competent they would feel to chase their dreams.
Onyewuchi said that there is a strong correlation between physical health and mental health.
She said that being active helps to tackle depression and coming to gyms brings people out of loneliness where they get to meet other people.
“The great thing about I-fitness is that we are a real family , there is community here, so even if you don’t have a lot of community in your life, you can come and find a community here.
“Working out will help you feel better, but also coming here and meeting amazing people here can help you form community, ”she said. (NAN)
