For men and women whose daily assignment is to confront danger, respond to emergencies and protect the lives and property of others, personal wellbeing cannot be treated as an afterthought. A security operative battling hypertension, chronic stress, and other forms of ill-health is himself exposed to risks that can ultimately undermine operational effectiveness.
It was against this backdrop that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) under the leadership of the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan brought a new dimension to its Statewide Inter-Agency Training Program which was held from 19th-20th August 2026 in Lagos. The August edition integrated free medical check-ups and health-risk awareness into the capacity-building initiative for security personnel.
All officers of the participating security agencies underwent vital sign screenings, including checks for blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and height. The exercise provided an opportunity for the clinicians and the officers themselves to have a snapshot of their health status while they received lectures on practical guidance for healthy living, stress management and preventive healthcare.
This medical screening initiative is a significant extension of the Fund’s training philosophy, which increasingly recognises that building a professional security architecture goes beyond weapons, equipment and operational tactics; it also requires investing in the physical, emotional, financial and intellectual wellbeing of the personnel entrusted with protecting society.
Speaking on the broader significance of the intervention, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan said that the health checks component was embedded into the August edition of the Statewide Multi-Agency Training Program to ensure that security personnel across Lagos have a deep sense of the reality and importance of their health and wellness to the onerous job that they do on a daily basis. ‘As our officers acquire knowledge and strengthen their professional capacity, it is important that their personal well-being is accorded top priority,’ he said.
Ogunsan added that his interest in people development and value addition informed this new initiative. ‘These health checks would continue into the subsequent editions, I can assure. I am a people-oriented person and I believe so much in people because they are the greatest asset that God has given to us. This program is designed for them.’
Leading the health session, Dr. Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola, Executive Director and Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Atlantis Pediatric and Multispecialist Hospital, as well as CEO of Celebre Platinum Group and CEO/MD of Paul Smith Spa, warned that metabolic syndrome and its complications pose a serious health threat, particularly to people exposed to demanding lifestyles and chronic stress. He explained that hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels are closely connected, noting that the presence of one should prompt medical investigation for the others. He identified stroke, heart attack, blood-vessel damage and kidney disease among the major complications that can arise when these conditions remain undetected or poorly managed.
Dr. Ololade stressed that the danger is compounded by the fact that many of these conditions are silent killers, with individuals often discovering them only after serious complications have developed. He therefore encouraged routine health checks and lifestyle modification, particularly moderation in salt consumption, regular exercise, adequate sleep and stress management. He introduced participants to the FRESH health protocol which includes: F-Food and vitamins, R-Reduce or remove stressors, E-Exercise, S-Sleep, and H-Health checks and vaccination as a simple framework for taking greater responsibility for personal wellbeing.
His message resonated particularly strongly with security personnel, whose work frequently exposes them to prolonged stress, irregular schedules and high-pressure decision-making. The intervention therefore brought healthcare directly into a professional environment where many officers may otherwise postpone routine medical examinations.
Also speaking, Clinical Nutritionist Titilayo Akindele, Founder of Nutrifull, focused on the relationship between stress, nutrition, hypertension and diabetes. She explained that the human body is designed to respond to short bursts of stress but begins to suffer when stress becomes chronic. According to her, prolonged stress triggers the release of cortisol and other hormones, contributing to weight gain, increased blood pressure and elevated blood sugar.
Akindele urged the officers to pay closer attention to what they consume and to their physical activity, stressing that small daily choices can have significant long-term consequences. She observed that security personnel spend much of their professional lives protecting others, making it important for them to deliberately protect their own health. Her session complemented the medical screenings by helping participants understand what their vital-sign results could mean and why preventive health should become part of their routine.
The August edition also retained the culture of rewarding commitment and punctuality, with cash rewards presented to participants who arrived early for each day’s training. The recognition of early birds added a motivational dimension to the programme while reinforcing discipline and punctuality.
Meanwhile, certificates were presented to all participating security operatives that successfully attended the LSSTF’s 2-Day Statewide Inter-Agency Training.
