The Association of Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries of Oyo and Osun States (AREHSPSOOS) has urged serving and retired top civil servants to prioritise healthy living, social interaction and purposeful engagement as they advance in age.
The association made the call at its 2026 AREHSPSOOS Day, which brought together serving and retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from Oyo and Osun states for a day of sightseeing, health education, medical screening and reminiscences of their years in public service.
Delivering a health lecture at the event, a consultant family physician, Dr Oluwatoyin Olalemi, said advancing age should not be regarded as synonymous with ill health, stressing that lifestyle choices and genetic factors play significant roles in determining health outcomes.
Olalemi identified physical health, mental well-being, social interaction, purposeful living and personal fulfillment as essential components of healthy aging.
She said, “Ageing is not a disease. The way we live our lives, what we eat and drink, our environment and our daily activities all have significant effects on our health as we grow older.”
The physician encouraged the participants to pay greater attention to their diets, remain physically active and maintain meaningful social relationships, noting that healthy ageing required a holistic approach.
She described the health session as interactive, saying members also shared personal experiences and practical ideas on maintaining healthy lifestyles in retirement.
Speaking on the significance of the annual event, the Chairman of AREHSPSOOS, Chief Adebisi Adesola, said the association introduced the celebration to create an avenue for members to relax, reconnect and interact outside their regular professional environment.
According to him, August 21 was deliberately chosen for the annual celebration, with the 2026 edition being the third since the initiative began.
Adesola commended members for their commitment and sacrifices during their years in public service, urging them to continue using their wealth of experience to mentor younger generations.
He said retirement should not mark the end of meaningful contributions to society.
“We are retired, but we are not tired. For us to live useful lives, we need to be useful. The experiences that we’ve all gathered, I advise that we continue to make use of them for the coming generations,” he said.
The AREHSPSOOS chairman added that the continued involvement of retired public servants in community and national development would help younger people benefit from the knowledge and experience accumulated during their years of service.
In his goodwill message, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, represented by the Assistant Secretary, Comrade Banji Koleosho, commended members of the association for their contributions to the development of Oyo State.
Abatan prayed for the retirees to enjoy continued good health, peace and prosperity in their later years.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Bayo Oyero, welcomed participants to the programme and expressed appreciation for their presence.
Oyero urged members to use the occasion to renew old friendships, share experiences and apply the health lessons from the lecture to their daily lives.
The event also provided an opportunity for the retired senior civil servants to look back on their years in public service, while strengthening the bonds of friendship, fellowship and camaraderie among members of the association.
