As Sylvester Ojenagbon approaches his 60th birthday on November 27, 2025, the Lagos-based health communication expert reflects on the profound wisdom gained from six decades of life. Rather than focusing on career achievements or financial success, he shares the true wealth he has discovered: the invaluable lessons about maintaining good health and wellbeing.
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Health is Everything stands as the foundational rule in Ojenagbon's philosophy. Like many Nigerians caught in the competitive rush of life, he once prioritized career advancement above all else. He viewed time spent with family, leisurely walks, and adequate sleep as distractions from more important professional pursuits.
This perspective shifted dramatically over a decade ago when a sudden, non-life-threatening but debilitating illness forced him to step back from his busy life. In that challenging period, the applause and recognition he had worked so hard to earn became meaningless. All that mattered was regaining the ability to walk without pain and sleep soundly through the night.
Ojenagbon now describes health as the sun that allows your garden of career, family, and hobbies to blossom. This realization prompted a complete reordering of his priorities, where protecting his health became the most responsible act he could perform for his family, employers, and most importantly, himself.
Building Your Health Support System
Find a Personal Doctor, Not Just a Clinic represents Ojenagbon's second crucial rule. He observes that many people treat medical professionals like mechanics—only visiting when something is broken. This approach of moving between walk-in clinics and specialists results in fragmented care that prevents true preventive health management.
The health expert emphasizes the importance of cultivating a consistent, trust-based relationship with a single dedicated doctor. This professional becomes someone who understands your complete health picture—family history, subtle changes in vital signs over years, work stress, and personal lifestyle challenges.
This doctor-patient relationship should function as a partnership built on transparency, where patients feel comfortable discussing concerns openly rather than simply following orders. When health crises emerge, having this knowledgeable ally who understands your medical history and baseline becomes priceless—serving as your primary advocate, strategist, and long-term health guide.
Proactive Health Management Strategies
Know Your Health Status Regularly forms Ojenagbon's third rule. He compares ignoring regular health check-ups to investing in a business without ever examining financial statements or driving a car without a dashboard. Being an active participant in your wellbeing means undergoing regular check-ups, blood tests, and screenings to understand your specific numbers—not just general "normal" ranges.
This includes knowing your blood pressure patterns, cholesterol profile, blood sugar levels, and key inflammatory markers. When you possess this knowledge, you transition from passive hope to active management, spotting concerning trends before they develop into serious problems.
Never Wait for Suspicion Before Seeking Help addresses the common human tendencies of fear and denial that prevent people from consulting doctors about persistent aches or unusual changes. Ojenagbon warns that this delay often represents where opportunity is lost and tragedy begins.
He emphasizes that nearly every serious illness—from certain cancers to heart disease—becomes highly manageable or curable when detected in early stages. The moment you notice persistent changes, unexplained pain, or anything that feels genuinely abnormal, contacting your doctor should be the immediate response.
Long-Term Health Investment Principles
Invest in Your Health as You Would in Precious Assets extends beyond merely paying medical bills. Ojenagbon defines true health investment as spending money on high-quality whole foods rather than cheap processed alternatives, budgeting for gym memberships or personal trainers, purchasing supportive mattresses for quality sleep, and potentially engaging therapists to manage chronic stress.
He reframes these costs not as expenses but as premiums paid toward future quality of life. A simple metric guides these decisions: Will this expenditure enable me to remain more active, energetic, and independent in ten years? If the answer is positive, the return on investment proves immeasurable.
Don't Wait Till You're Getting Old: Start When Young stands as Ojenagbon's most crucial message for younger generations. He stresses that youthful invincibility is an illusion that shouldn't require a physical or mental crisis to shatter. The secret to vibrant aging lies not in recovering from illness but in consistent, decades-long prevention.
He urges young people to establish consistent movement routines, learn stress-management techniques, prioritize whole foods, and protect sleep quality. The 60-year-old self will thank them for the compound interest built into their bodies over a lifetime.
As Ojenagbon celebrates his 60th birthday, he expresses profound gratitude for lessons learned, second chances taken, and the wisdom that has replaced youthful ignorance. His six golden rules provide a simple, actionable roadmap for Nigerians seeking the greatest joy in life: having the health and energy to truly live it well into their golden years.
