Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday emphasised the need for people to watch their diet, embrace regular exercise and prioritise medical care to keep fit and stay healthy.

Obasanjo, who said that he is “officially 89”, yet he has been nursing diabetes for over 40 years, adding that aside from the grace of God, the fact that he kept to a healthy diet without joking with regular exercise as well as seeking medical care and taking necessary medications must have helped him to stay fit and healthy at 89.

The former president disclosed this on Saturday after performing the tee off of the 2026 First Bank/OBJ Golf Tournament held at Abeokuta Golf Club.

Speaking on the essence of the tournament, the former president said that “One thing you must understand is that exercise is very important at every age — and even more important when you become a senior citizen.

“I’m officially 89 years old, but I have by the grace of God being keeping fit and strong despite the fact that I have been diabetic for over 40 years, but the point is that many people do not take their health seriously enough. I always talk about the acronym DREAMS + C.

“There is this acronym of DREMS+C that I work with; the D is for diet, what kind of food do you eat? The R is for rest. Do you have time to rest? The E is for exercise, you must exercise regularly, the M is for Medical, the need to go for a check-up and take necessary medications.

“The S is for social, create time to interact with the people, and this was one of the reasons why I established a Senior Citizens Club in OOPL, and the minimum age for joining is 70. Some people try to join earlier, but the age requirement is 70.

“Finally, the C stands for contentment. Whatever position you are in life, be content. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ambitious — you should have realistic ambition — but avoid over-ambition”.

Obasanjo hailed First Bank for supporting and sponsoring the tournament being organised in his honour for the past eight years by Abeokuta Golf Clubs, explaining that he is always excited every year to be part of the tournament that is also helping to drive national cohesion and unity.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group, Mr Olusegun Alebiosu, commended participants for their discipline, integrity and sportsmanship.

Alebiosu described the tournament as a platform that promotes focus, fair play, character and lasting relationships beyond competition.

According to him, the event celebrates not only achievements on the golf course, but also the consistency, discipline and mental focus required in the game.

Alebiosu said every golfer emerged better after each round through dedication, continuous improvement and commitment to excellence.

He commended the Abeokuta Golf Club, organising committee, officials, volunteers and sponsors for ensuring a seamless and successful tournament.
He noted that their professionalism had continued to raise the standard of golf tournaments in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the tournament, the Vice Chairman of Abeokuta Golf Club and Chairman, Organising Committee of the tournament, Oladele Adeniran, said that the tournament is held in honour of former President Obasanjo to celebrate his invaluable contributions to the development of not only Nigeria but Africa as a whole.

Adeniran, however, regretted that golf is not as widely embraced as some other sports because of the misconception that the game is only for elites or wealthy people, saying that the notion is completely wrong.

He said, “Yes, if you are financially comfortable, you can play the game. But there is also another pathway into golf, especially for younger people — becoming a caddie. As a caddie, you have access to the course, and you can learn and practice the game.

“In fact, many of the professional golfers we have in Nigeria and around the world today started as caddies. Some of them came from humble backgrounds, but through golf, they have become respected voices in society. I encourage everyone to give golf a chance.

“People also say, ‘I don’t have time to play golf,’ but that is another misconception. Golf is one of the few sports you can play alone. If you want to play football, volleyball, or table tennis, you need other people. But in golf, you are not really competing against another person — you are competing against the course.

“You can play at your convenience. Some people start at 6 a.m., finish nine holes by 8 a.m., dress up, and head to work. Others come in after work around 5 p.m. Apart from being enjoyable, golf also helps people stay active. A round of golf can easily help you achieve over 10,000 steps in a day”.

Speaking further, Adeniran said that the tournament on Friday hosted some of the best professional golfers in Nigeria, including Nigeria’s No. 1 golfer and West Africa’s No. 1 professional golfer, Francis Ekpeyong, who maintained his top status by emerging as the winner of the professional tournament.

Also in attendance were former Nigerian No. 1 professional, Sunday Olapade, who came second alongside veteran professional Nojim Shofela.

He added, “For today, we are expecting about 176 amateur golfers to compete on the course. Everything is set, and as you can see, players are already taking their shots and enjoying themselves.”