UNILORIN don harps on regular physical activities as antidote for fitness
By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
A Professor of Exercise and Sports Science, University of Ilorin, Olufunmilayo Leah Dominc, has stressed the importance of regular physical activities to all humans, describing it as an integral in the prevention and treatment of diseases.
She said: “It should be regularly accessed and treated as part of all healthcare delivery towards curbing the fast-growing public health problems of physical inactivity and sedentariness.”
Prof. Dominic, who delivered the 209th Inaugural Lecture of the University, urged all healthcare providers to ensure they make physical activities part of their treatment plans, saying exercise is medicine.
She enumerated challenges to human kinetics to include inappropriate nomenclature, attitude of many of the professionals in human movement (physical activity)and the perception of policy makers, adding that, “it is unfortunate that policies in human movement is very narrow and tend to limit the development of the broad subdisciplines of human movement.”
She said: “Nigeria’s policy on physical activity remains on paper to date despite rising challenges linked to multidimensional human movement deficits.
“Insufficient time allotment to Physical Education (PE) remains a problem in many schools that endangers motor skill development lifestyle behaviour of the pupils and students.”
As a way forward, the Inaugural Lecturer said there is the need for awareness and participatory role at all kevels, adding that movement behaviours at home, school, workplace, social systems and the larger community should be restored.
In addition, she sought the existing policy on teaching and training of Human Kinetics professionals to be multidimensional and extended beyond tertiary institutions by involving all stakeholders.