How gym culture has evolved into a major social, romantic, business, networking, entertainment and health movement in Nigeria
By Sylvester Asoya
Gym culture in Nigeria has transformed into a vibrant mix that blends wellness with relationship-building, love, commerce and leisure. It is also evident that Gym opening and management these days, have evolved into something far beyond a mere fitness trend. This, many people believe, is the reason Gym industry is impossible to overlook, with happenings ranging from the commendable to the questionable, and even the outright troubling. The question now is: where does fitness club go from here?
Emerging in the early to mid-2000s and gaining prominence by the 2010s, fitness club culture in Nigeria was pioneered by Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, Nigeria’s three major cities renowned for innovation and setting high standards. Today, many remote areas of Nigeria, irrespective of zones, can claim a small fitness centre.
To be fair, gym business in Nigeria in those early years started on a very healthy note, driven essentially by rising health awareness, urbanization, modern lifestyles, global fitness trends, youth culture, entrepreneurial opportunities and corporate wellness initiatives championed by many high-performing companies. And, in those years of innocence, gyms played by the rules, with neither scandals nor untoward developments.
Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed dramatically. To say that recent developments at some gyms across the country are troubling would be putting it mildly. Today, fitness centres are experiencing a notable shift, as their clients and instructors present new challenges with every passing day.
Only recently, a scandal made the rounds about a gym instructor in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, who allegedly impregnated four women: two married and two single. The news shook the industry to its very foundations and disorientated many lovers of gym activities. But this is not an isolated case, as similar incidents have occurred elsewhere in the past in different parts of Nigeria.
It will be difficult to pinpoint a single reason why male gym instructors are sometimes irresistible to their female clients but several psychological, social and physical factors are responsible. However, the most common factors are physical attraction, close proximity, authority and expertise, emotional connection, boosted self-esteem, the fitness environment, attention, and sociological perception. But there is also the reality that some women, married or single, intentionally seek the attention of these instructors, which is an undeniable fact.
Loveth Ezengwa, a financial consultant, is a regular female gym user who understands the politics, sociology and economics behind some of the amorous activities that occur during fitness sessions, whether by day or night. However, she cautions that it would be unfair to paint every female gym user with the same brush. She maintains that it is always easy to spot the women who are either seeking partners or simply looking for a quick, no-strings-attached affairs at the gym. “I know that some women come to gyms with intentions that go beyond health and fitness, and these tendencies are easy to observe, which is why I attend morning sessions and weekends. As you know, night sessions can be unpredictable. The gym, almost on a daily basis, is full of spectacles and surprises, and no one can underestimate the influence of personal coaches who are everywhere assisting with complex equipment, offering massages, supervising tummy sessions, and making themselves available to some rich, lonely, available, and beautiful women who enjoy being indulged.”
To say that gyms in Nigeria are not addressing health conditions or connecting people who see beyond the fitness environment is to be in denial. However, some gym enthusiasts, both male and female, admit they found no immediate solutions to their perceived health issues despite paying huge sums of money with the expectation that their registration would make everything better for them. One of such persons is Boniface Ogbonna, who lost hope in fitness clubs after his bulging tummy refused to shrink despite many daily exercise sessions at the gym. But he also noticed the perceived immorality at the gym, which, among other factors, discouraged him from continuing the daily rigorous exercises. On a serious note, Ogbonna believes that gym owners must do more than just provide equipment, hire attractive male staff, deliver appealing interior design, music, air conditioning, well-maintained workout areas and a relaxing ambiance. “I must confess, the gym I used was filled with women in seductive dresses, coupled with the handsome and always ready to assist coaches. All these and more, made the atmosphere feel more like a nightclub than a fitness centre. In addition, experiencing the perfume-filled, flirtatious setting of a typical Nigerian city gym, where coaches and women constantly exchanged seductive glances, made me feel overlooked and unwanted. So, I left after a few months.”
Many people who have encountered gym seduction at one time or the other, have their own stories to tell. Yet, few discuss how gyms sometimes become emotional escapes for lonely, affluent or isolated women who see fitness clubs as places where they might find connection or love. A woman who refused to be named recalls how a very handsome and caring coach took such personal interest in her wellbeing, always asking about her family and work. At a point, she found herself developing emotional feelings for the young man despite being married. And, eventually, Saturday mornings at the gym became more about seeing him than about fitness and health.
Even so, those who trust in the transformative power of gyms, whether for improving health, building social connections, or overcoming boredom, stand firm in their belief that fitness clubs are healthy and are here to stay. And they are always quick to argue that every worthwhile experience comes with its challenges and downsides. According to them, some of these ugly developments should not stop anyone from embracing what brings joy and vitality to life and living. After all, every experience has two sides, and no one can honestly deny that. Who knows, maybe in the fullness of time, gyms will blossom into the very vision their creators and patrons once dreamed of. Whether gyms reach their full potential and ultimately fulfill their intended purpose, now or in the near future, remains uncertain, but time will tell.
