UADS SDO Organizes Fitness Walk for Preclinical Students

The Special Duties Officer (SDO) of the University of Ibadan Association of Dental Students (UADS) in person of Olabode John Olamide in collaboration with Philos Fitness Academy organized a remarkable fitness session for the UADS preclinical community.

Speaking to members of the BDS 2K28 class, the SDO explained that although the initiative was not part of his campaign manifesto, he was deeply passionate about bringing it to life. According to him, one of the major motivations behind the event was the need to strengthen relationships within the association.

"One thing I have noticed in UADS is that we hardly know our senior or junior colleagues. Apart from football, which connects a few of the guys, many students barely interact with one another. It's not just about knowing a senior or junior colleague, but being able to connect with them. The best way to achieve that is building connection from the preclinical community."

He further noted that Philos Fitness College has consistently supported many UADS events and activities.

The SDO stated that his initial plan was to organize a hangout for the preclinical community. However, due to the low turnout recorded during the planning of the 2K29 Freshers Welcome party where refreshments exceeded the number they budgeted for, he decided to postpone the hangout.

"So, the idea of a simple event that would involve the preclinical community came up, which is the Fitness Walk. It will also serve as an indication of what to expect for the proposed preclinical hangout." He stated.

Although registration numbers were initially low, he encouraged everyone to participate and make the event a success.

The fitness walk was held on Saturday, 6th June, 2026. Participants assembled at the Students Union Building (SUB) with the fitness agenda spanning through Parry Road, stretching to Awba Dam and ending at Awo Stadium. The meeting time was fixed for 7:00 a.m., while the convergence time was scheduled for 7:45 a.m.

By 7:00 a.m., preparations were already underway as Preclinical students began to arrive in large numbers. To accommodate latecomers, the commencement of the walk was delayed until about 8:50 a.m.

The participants set out from the SUB, moving through the Faculty of Arts. At the Faculty of Education, the group paused to form a large circle where participants introduced themselves. Interactive games also took place, including a microphone-passing session, full of excitement and encouraged social interaction.

After some time, the journey continued through Parry Road, towards Awba Dam and eventually to Awo Stadium.

As the walk continued, several breaks were taken for games, entertainment, and relaxation. The participants were provided with water, glucose and sweets to keep their energy levels up throughout the exercise.

Many attendees described the event as enjoyable despite the physical demands of the journey. A stop at Awba Dam provided an opportunity for many students, who had only heard about the location, to finally experience it. Photographs were taken at various points to capture memorable moments from the event.

The final destination was Awo Stadium, where participants relaxed and were treated to watermelon punch. The fun continued with activities such as push-up challenges, where representatives of different color groups performed push-ups based on numbers randomly selected from Whot cards. Relay races, including the 100-metre and 400-metre events, also formed part of the day's activities.

The event officially came to a close between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m, as participants, though visibly tired, expressed satisfaction with the experience.

A picture of preclinical students at the event.

Following the event, a press correspondent spoke with some attendees to hear their thoughts about the event.

Mary, a member of the BDS 2K29 class, commended the efforts of the organizers, saying:

"All I can say is that it was fun, and I really commend the effort of the SDO. God will bless him for us, and to the team that organized the fitness walk, more strength to them. I really enjoyed myself and I'm so happy to be part of the UADS family."

Oluwagbohunmi a senator in the 2K28 Constituency also expressed her satisfaction.

"I sincerely appreciate our Special Duty Officer and Philos Fitness for organizing and sponsoring today's fitness walk. It was a well-planned and enjoyable event that not only promoted physical fitness but also encouraged interaction among students across different levels. It was great to see pre-clinical students connect with freshers and also walking round the campus together. It created a fun and refreshing atmosphere while highlighting the importance of staying active. Thank you for a wonderful initiative and a job well done."

Another participant, Boluwatife from the BDS 2K27 class, also expressed her satisfaction with the event. She commended the organizers for their efforts and applauded the impressive turnout.

"It was very amazing. Kudos to the organizers, they did a really great job, and I was impressed with the turnout. The DJ, the MCs, the watermelon punch, and every member of the organizing committee all contributed immensely to bringing the event to life."

In his closing remarks, the Special Duties Officer disclosed that the much anticipated Preclinical Hangout would be held one week after the MB examinations. He encouraged all members of the UADS preclinical community to participate actively and continue fostering the spirit of unity and friendship that the fitness walk had promoted. He also enjoined all the preclinical members to follow thephilosfit on Instagram.

With smiles, laughter, and memorable experiences shared among participants, the event came to a close as everyone departed for their respective homes, looking forward to future UADS activities.

Adeitan Faith Ayomikun