Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he remains fit and active at 89 despite living with diabetes for over four decades, a feat he attributes to strict adherence to exercise, proper diet, and regular medical check-ups.
Obasanjo made the remarks in Abeokuta yesterday after performing the ceremonial tee-off at the 2026 FirstBank/OBJ Golf Tournament at the Abeokuta Golf Club. He urged Nigerians to take their health seriously and embrace the lifestyle choices that have sustained him through old age.
"Exercise is very important at every age, and even more important when you become a senior citizen," Obasanjo said. "I'm officially 89 years old, but by the grace of God, I have been keeping fit and strong even though I have been diabetic for over 40 years. Many people do not take their health seriously enough."
The former president outlined what he calls the "DREAMS + C" principle as a guide to healthy living. The framework breaks down as follows: D for diet, R for rest, E for exercise, M for medical check-ups and medication, S for social interaction, and C for contentment. He explained that contentment does not mean abandoning ambition but rather adopting realistic goals and avoiding over-ambition that breeds stress.
Obasanjo noted that he established a Senior Citizens Club at OOPL with a minimum membership age of 70 to encourage social interaction among older Nigerians. He expressed enthusiasm about participating in the golf tournament annually because it promotes exercise, builds relationships, and fosters national unity.
Oladele Adeniran, Vice Chairman of the Abeokuta Golf Club and chairman of the tournament's organising committee, said the competition honours Obasanjo's contributions to Nigeria and Africa. Adeniran dismissed claims that golf is an elitist sport, pointing out that caddying offers a pathway into the game for people from humble backgrounds. "Many professional golfers in Nigeria and around the world today started as caddies," he said.
Adeniran highlighted golf's health benefits and flexibility. Players can complete nine holes in two hours before heading to work, or play in the evening after business hours. A standard round of golf easily allows players to exceed 10,000 steps in a day, he noted.
Francis Ekpeyong, Nigeria's number one golfer and West Africa's top-ranked professional, won the professional category of the tournament. Former Nigerian number-one Sunday Olapade finished second, with veteran golfer Nojim Shofela completing the top three.
