Healthcare leaders, royal fathers, policymakers and other stakeholders have called for a decisive shift from reactive healthcare to proactive self-care, stressing the need for individuals and institutions to prioritise disease prevention and healthy living.
The call was made at the third edition of the D’Bio Wellness & Selfcare Summit 2026, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme, “The Selfcare Ecosystem: Connecting the Pillars of Health.”
The two-day summit was convened by the Founder of D’Bio Wellness & Selfcare Hub, Dr. Monica Hemben Eimunjeze, FPSN, FNAPharm., and brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, corporate organisations, wellness advocates, innovators, civil society groups, community leaders and traditional institutions.
The gathering focused on strengthening self-care as a critical component of preventive healthcare while exploring practical strategies for reducing the growing burden of preventable and non-communicable diseases across Africa.
The summit also sought to bridge the gap between healthcare policy, workplace wellness, grassroots advocacy and technological innovation, with participants examining ways to improve health literacy, expand access to preventive care and promote sustainable wellness practices within communities.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Eimunjeze said the summit was designed to demystify the concept of self-care and equip participants with practical knowledge that could be applied in their everyday lives.
She noted that despite the growing popularity of wellness discussions, many people still lack a proper understanding of what self-care entails, stressing that individuals need to be empowered with practical knowledge on nutrition, physical activity, mental health and the rational use of healthcare products.
Chairman of the occasion, His Royal Majesty, Igwe (Pharm.) Alexander Uzodinma Onyido, Ezechuamagha of Ogidi Kingdom, welcomed participants and commended the convener for bringing together leading voices from the healthcare and wellness sectors.
Igwe Onyido stressed that human health must be approached holistically, noting that a breakdown in one aspect of an individual's wellbeing could affect the entire person.
He urged participants to use the summit to discover new health realities and become advocates of self-health awareness in their various communities.
Also speaking, Chief Sir (Pharm.) Nnamdi Obi, CEO of Embassy Pharmaceutical and D’Bio Ambassador, cautioned Nigerians against taking their health for granted or attributing medical conditions to spiritual causes without seeking appropriate medical attention.
Drawing from his personal experience with his father’s medical diagnosis in Germany, Obi warned against relying on rumours and unverified information, particularly from social media, and urged members of the public to seek evidence-based healthcare.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, FPSN, stressed that maintaining good health requires deliberate and consistent effort.
He also called on stakeholders to support the forthcoming centenary celebration of organised pharmacy in Nigeria.
Representing the Naval Officers’ Wives Association, Dr. Aisha Oladejo noted the growing public interest in wellness and emphasised the benefits of conscious, natural and preventive health practices.
Delivering the keynote address, Pharm. Olayinka Subair said the concept of self-care must be treated as an interconnected ecosystem involving individuals, families, communities, healthcare professionals, technology, policies and health products.
He said preventive medicine, mental wellbeing, health literacy and community support must work together to achieve sustainable health outcomes.
Subair warned that rising cases of non-communicable diseases across Africa made it imperative for individuals to take greater responsibility for their health.
He defined self-care as the deliberate actions individuals take to protect and improve their health through proper nutrition, physical activity, mental health management, rational use of healthcare products and avoidance of health risks.
According to him, the self-care ecosystem encompasses families, communities, pharmacists, digital platforms, government policies, healthcare products and health workers, all working towards enabling people to make informed health decisions.
He identified seven essential pillars of wellbeing as physical, nutritional, social, financial, environmental, spiritual and occupational health, stressing that none should be neglected.
Subair particularly advocated greater dietary discipline, encouraging Nigerians to consume more locally available foods while reducing excessive salt and sugar intake.
He also placed mental wellbeing at the centre of self-care, declaring that “a healthy mind is the engine of all other self-care.”
He warned that persistent stress, poor sleep and unhealthy thought patterns were increasingly contributing to chronic health conditions.
“If we don't protect our health, our health system will fail us,” he cautioned, urging individuals to pay closer attention to their stress levels, sleep patterns and social relationships.
Subair called on religious organisations, schools and community leaders to promote mental health awareness, stressing that a peaceful mind was essential to overall wellbeing.
He further challenged healthcare professionals to move beyond treatment and prescriptions by taking on broader roles in coaching, screening, counselling, referral, education and continuous follow-up of patients.
He urged pharmacists to provide at least one structured self-care counselling point to every customer while ensuring that health products remain affordable, accessible and culturally relevant.
The keynote speaker also warned Nigerians against relying on unverified online health advisers, social media rumours and claims that medical conditions are primarily spiritual in origin.
To strengthen self-care practices, he proposed a one-yearpersonal commitment model to encourage consistency, alongside policy interventions such as higher taxes on sugary products, subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables, and the development of localised digital health tools.
He also called on technology innovators to develop nutrition-tracking applications and mental health content in indigenous languages.
For individuals, Subair recommended at least 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise five days a week, while urging communities to organise regular walks and mental health discussions.
He also called on corporate organisations to promote healthier workplace environments through improved canteen options, workplace fitness facilities and other employee wellness programmes.
Following the keynote, Dr. Eimunjeze commended Subair for translating complex healthcare issues into practical solutions that align with the vision of the D’Bio Wellness & Selfcare Hub.
Igwe Onyido similarly described the presentation as an eye-opening assessment of the realities of African healthcare, praising its emphasis on mental wellbeing, local solutions and personal responsibility.
The summit also featured a panel session titled “Pursuit for Balance,” moderated by Josephine Ohine, with contributions from Dr. Mabe Nwanegbo, Mr. Adedipo Adekumbi, Pharm. Veronica Modupe, Dr. Andre and Pharm. Folashade Olufunke Lawal.
The panellists examined the importance of maintaining balance across different aspects of life, with discussions focusing on social media, stress management, sleep, nutrition, social relationships and personal boundaries.
Adekumbi warned that social media was increasingly fuelling unhealthy comparisons and distorting people's understanding of success, while urging individuals to prioritise genuine human relationships.
Modupe explained that stress was a natural response to change and challenges but warned that persistent or severe stress required professional attention.
She particularly urged people experiencing prolonged insomnia to seek medical help, stressing that poor sleep could significantly affect productivity and overall health.
The panel also emphasised that balance did not mean perfection but rather ensuring that no major aspect of an individual's wellbeing was consistently neglected.
Another session focused on creative industry and mental wellness, with discussions centred on burnout, substance use, emotional health and the pressures confronting young creatives.
The session, moderated by Yoshiko Jovia, President of the Nigerian Chapter of the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme, featured Dr. Olajumoke Koyejo, Kato Jato Esq. and Dr. Omotayo Ajetutu.
Dr. Koyejo warned that young creatives risk severe burnout when mental health challenges are ignored, while Jato called for safe environments where people can openly discuss their emotional and psychological struggles.
The panellists urged creatives to seek help when necessary and rejected the misconception that artists require drugs or stimulants to enhance their performances.
They also called for stronger mental health education in secondary schools and the development of digital tools that can support mental wellness and emotional literacy.
The summit further highlighted the need for employers and organisations to prioritise the physical and psychological wellbeing of their workforce.
The event featured the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation and awards to healthcare professionals, wellness advocates, ambassadors and other stakeholders recognised for their contributions to health advocacy and self-care awareness.
Among those honoured were Dr. Olajumoke Koyejo, Kato Jato Esq., Dr. Omotayo Ajetutu, Ali Adamu Paparazi, Tony “Don T” Anifite, Celia Penny Moses-Nagbiku, Joke Bakare and Salam Damola.
Other recipients included Dr. Mohammed Musa Zango, Dr. Terfa Kene, Sir (Pharm.) Nnamdi Obi and Ikyuma Obaigbena, who was decorated as a Self-Awareness Ambassador.
Keynote speaker Pharm. Olayinka Subair also received a special honour for his contribution to the summit, while HRM Igwe (Pharm.) Alexander Uzodinma Onyido was honoured for his leadership as chairman of the summit and decorated as an Ambassador of D’Bio Wellness & Selfcare.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Eimunjeze urged participants to move beyond discussions and translate the lessons from the summit into practical actions in their homes, workplaces and communities.
Subair, in his closing charge, called on government institutions, private organisations, healthcare professionals, students, the media and members of the public to incorporate preventive health practices into their daily routines and policy frameworks.
He urged stakeholders to transform the summit's recommendations into practical projects that would improve health outcomes across society.
“We should connect people, connect the pillars we have learnt so that we can have a healthier society,” he said.
The summit ended with a renewed call for stronger collaboration among government, healthcare professionals, businesses, communities and individuals to make self-care a foundational component of public health and reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
