By Onwa Ekor
The Healthy Billionaires Calabar Walkathon has solicited the support of the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, for its 2026 edition scheduled for Saturday, September 19.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Samuel Usoro, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by a cross-section of members of the group to the NUJ Press Centre in Calabar on Tuesday.
Themed “Unity and Sustainable Development,” the 2026 walk is expected to bring together citizens, government officials, corporate organisations, security agencies, civil society actors and other stakeholders in a symbolic demonstration of unity and a collective call for sustainable development.
Usoro said this year’s walk would focus on breaking political, ethnic, religious and tribal barriers while encouraging citizens to unite and demand sustainable development from government and other stakeholders.
He noted that the walk is particularly significant as the country approaches another election cycle, a period often characterised by political divisions and competing interests.
“People are allowed to choose who they want and vote for who they want, but the most important thing is to be united before and after the elections,” he said.
The planning committee chairman explained that the Healthy Billionaires use the annual walk as a platform to start conversations around issues affecting society and to encourage government, corporate organisations and citizens to pursue initiatives capable of producing lasting impact.
“This year’s theme, ‘Unity and Sustainable Development,’ was designed to bring people together irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, religion or ethnicity. We are going to break all those barriers of division and then speak with one voice, asking people in authority, corporate leaders and even ourselves to do things that are sustainable for our economy and society,” he said.
Usoro appealed to journalists to amplify the message of the walk and help take the advocacy beyond Calabar, stressing that the media remain central to public advocacy and social mobilisation.
“We have come to the NUJ because we know we cannot do without you. The whole concept of advocacy comes from you. We are asking you to lend your voice and amplify what we want to do,” he said.
He disclosed that the walk would commence at 7 a.m. on Saturday from Millennium Park, with participants proceeding along designated carnival routes before returning for a wind-up.
He also hinted at a post-event press conference to highlight the outcomes and impact of the initiative.
Usoro said the Healthy Billionaires had, over the years, used its activities to draw attention to pressing social issues such as drug abuse, mental health, autism and neurological disorders.
He added that the organisation does not necessarily have the resources to directly solve every problem but uses its platforms to connect stakeholders, generate public awareness and encourage those responsible to act.
“We start the conversation and bring the players into the same circle. We bring the media spotlight and the people saddled with the responsibility of making those things happen together. We start the discussions and hopefully it metamorphoses into results,” he said.
He said military and paramilitary formations had also been contacted ahead of this year’s walk and were expected to participate and provide public enlightenment on responsible citizenship, the consequences of destroying public property and other actions that could lead to criminal prosecution.
He further emphasised that the walk would be deliberately non-partisan.
“We are opening our doors to everybody. You might see people from different political divides walking alongside one another. We are not talking politics that day. We are simply going to walk for unity and ask for sustainable development,” he said.
Responding, the State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Archibong Bassey, commended the Healthy Billionaires for consistently using its annual activities to draw attention to important issues affecting society.
Bassey noted that sustainable development cannot be achieved through government action alone, stressing the need for citizens to understand their responsibilities and contribute to building a better society.
She called for greater unity, trust and public reorientation, particularly at a time when social media continues to influence public discourse and shape perceptions.
She also raised questions about the need for follow-up mechanisms to ensure that conversations generated by the annual walks translate into measurable and sustainable outcomes.
During the interaction, concerns were also raised on overcrowding in correctional facilities, the high number of awaiting-trial inmates and the absence of adequate juvenile correctional facilities.