By Amaechi Agbo

Determined to improve the health need of its workers and ensure efficient productivity, the Raw Material Research and Development Council RMRDC, through its Sports Club, has opened a gym centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

Speaking during the unveiling in Abuja Wednesday, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the RMRDC, Prof. Ibrahim Hussaini Doko, who commissioned the facility, charged the staff to avail themselves of the gym centre to exercise themselves and live healthy.

He commended the RMRDC Sports Council for their foresightedness in establishing the facility which he said would go a long way to promote productivity in the council.

“Today, a new chapter has been opened for all of us here to not only exercise ourselves but also ensure that we live healthy. This is the first of its kind and I enjoin all staff in the council to avail themselves of this facility. 

“exercise promotes good living and this gym centre has come to provide this for us.

“I want to thank the Sports Club in the council for deeming it fit to establish a gym centre for all of us,” he said.

Earlier in his opening speech, the Chairman, RMRDC Sports Club, Mr Batako Umar Lapai, said that the primary purpose of establishing the gym centre was to promote exercise and fitness among the staff and their family members.

He noted that the establishment of the gym was part of is election promise while he was campaigning for the RMRDC Sports Council’s chairmanship position. 

“The primary aim of establishing the gym centre is for the staff of the council and their immediate family members to make use of the facilities provided at the gym to keep fit and promote good health.

“For those who are familiar with existing gym centres all over, it helps reduce excess fat and stress from work. So after a hectic job or day in the office, staff have the opportunity from 4 to 6pm every day and Saturdays to use the gym.

“Today I am very happy because one of my election promises has been fulfilled. The primary motive of establishing the gym centre, prior to our election into the Sports Club Committee, we promised that when elected into office, the new EXCO will ensure the establishment of a gym centre for the purpose of staff use,” he said.

The use of the facilities at the gym centre is at no cost to the staff and their immediate family members. It is free of charge.

In interview, Mr Lapai provided further details on the activities of the Sports Club and how they planned to maintain the gym centre

“Management of the gym centre is one of the areas we looked at before we established the gym centre because having a facility that you cannot maintain; I don’t think it is a very good one for us. Already, there is a committee we set up before the commissioning date. The use of the facility is going to be moderated in a way and manner that it will not be over crowded. There is going to be a programme drawn for the members of the staff and their families that will make use of the facility.

“We already have routing maintenance activities in place for the gym. Every month, an engineer will come to check whether the machines are faulty pr not, to ensure that they are always in good working conditions. So, we are working closely to ensure that those facilities are maintained,” he said

On effective use of the gym centre by staff and family members since it was not made compulsory for them, Mr Lapai noted that the need for exercise and healthy living was the highlight of the Chief Executive of the council’s speech during the unveiling.

“He seriously encouraged staff to avail themselves of these facilities because he too exercises.

“He made them to understand that physical fitness is one of the panaceas for good health and if you don’t have the fitness, you may not even be able to work in your office. He motivates and encourages members to make good use of the facility. So, it is not compulsory. But he encouraged us to avail ourselves the use of the facility for the purpose of ensuring sound health and contribute to the council’s productivity.”