Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Nana Shettima, as well as the wives of Lagos, Kwara, Anambra and River states governors, on Wednesday, visited state hospitals to welcome the first babies born on New Year’s Day.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, unveiled and celebrated the 2025 Surulere Baby of the Year at the Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Centre, Surulere, Lagos where the Baby of the Year, named Ikeatu Okika Chiamaka, was born at about 12.am on Wednesday.
Mrs Shettima, representing the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, welcomed Abuja’s first baby of the year 2025 at the Asokoro District Hospital.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Favour Stephen-Odion, a baby girl, was born to the family of Mr Odion Oyinbo and Mrs Chioma Odion at exactly 12.27 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, weighing 3.6kg.
Mrs Shettima also received other babies born at the hospital, including the first baby boy of the year 2025, Zimchikachim Ejiofor, born to the family of Mr Ejiofor Nworie and Mrs Delight at about 7.14 a.m., weight 3kg.
The VP’s wife welcomed Favour and all the other babies born on New Year Day in the FCT with baby gifts, including post-natal care products and nutritional supplies, as well as cash gifts.
She said, “I am here to represent the Mother of the Nation to welcome the first baby of the year and other children.
“So, I’m presenting this token and a beautiful package to our dear daughter. I want to wish her well, long life, prosperity, good health.
“Insha Allah, they (first baby and other babies) are the next generation to take over from us. I wish you all the best. Please take good care of her.”
She counselled the mothers on exclusive breastfeeding, immunisation and timely post-natal care.
She further presented birth certificates to the first baby of the year and the first baby boy.
NAN reports that the First Lady was conducted around the maternity ward of the hospital, where she congratulated parents of other newborn babies.
Earlier, the acting Chief Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Dr Rosemary Nwokorie, while welcoming the First Lady, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for commitment to transforming the nation’s health sector.
Nwokorie also applauded the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President for initiating various intervention programmes, especially the Renewed Hope Initiative towards assisting vulnerable Nigerians, especially women and children.
Meanwhile, in Lagos State, the governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, ushered in 2025 with goodwill, celebrating the first babies of the year in a tradition symbolising hope and new beginnings.
The event took place across three general hospitals — Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Isolo — where Baby Olaolu, Twins Osayomi, and Baby Lawal made their debut as ambassadors of a fresh start.
Baby Olaolu, a girl weighing 2.75kg, was born at 12:34 a.m. at Ikorodu General Hospital. Twins Osayomi arrived earlier at 12:14 a.m. and 12:15 a.m. at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, a girl and a boy weighing 2.5kg and 2.049kg, respectively.
Baby Lawal, a boy weighing 2.7kg, completed the trio at 1:32 a.m. at Isolo General Hospital.
Each newborn received warm greetings and thoughtful gifts from the governor’s wife and her entourage, including the wife of the Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu, in her speech, emphasised the joy and unity brought by the milestones.
“The birth of a child signifies the assurance that our heritage is carried forward to the next generation. It is a moment of communal celebration that unites us in joy and gratitude,” she stated, urging Lagosians to embrace the shared responsibility of nurturing future generations.
She called for sustained partnerships with non-governmental organisations and corporate organisations to bolster healthcare initiatives.
“Your contributions have significantly boosted our healthcare delivery. I encourage more partnerships to enhance services across the state,” she said.
Highlighting the Lagos State Government’s commitment to healthcare, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, lauded ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health, including breastfeeding campaigns and the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme.
Also, in Kwara State, the governor’s wife, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, on Wednesday, welcomed three babies born in the early hours of 2025 at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (Kawasaki), Ilorin.
Represented by the state Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Opeyemi Afolashade, the Kwara First Lady noted that she visited the hospital to rejoice with parents of the New Year babies and identify with the families for safe deliveries.
Abdulrazaq, who is the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, maintained that the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was passionate about their care and well-being.
‘This visit to the government hospital on the first day of the year is the usual visit in which Her Excellency Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq will rejoice and congratulate the lucky families who happened to give birth to the first babies of the new year..
“Her Excellency Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, being the chairperson of spouses of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum under the leadership of H/E Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq is very passionate about the care and well-being of Kwara people,” she said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, explained that “welcoming of the New Year babies is a yearly programme of the First lady, Ambassador Abdulrazaq, as every newborn is precious, particularly in a new year.”
According to the health commissioner, Kwara State is the best place to be born in view of Governor Abdulrazaq’s commitment to the welfare of citizens.
Responding, one of the parents of the New Year babies, Abdullahi Olaoye, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the gesture.
The commissioners were conducted around the ward where the New Year babies were unveiled by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council, KWASUTH, Dr Idowu Ogunlaja
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gifts to the New Year babies.
Similarly in Anambra State, the governor’s wife, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Wednesday welcomed the first baby of 2025 at the General Hospital, Nnobi, in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Soludo presented gift items to the newborns and their families during her goodwill visit to the hospital.
NAN also reports that the first baby of the year, a boy weighing 2.4 kilogrammes, was born to Mrs Elizabeth Nwachukwu from Enugu State through normal delivery at 12:18 a.m.
Soludo also visited the General Hospital in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, where Mrs Chinaza Mmuoghalum from Ekwulobia delivered a baby girl weighing 4kg at 7:16 a.m.
Speaking to journalists, Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, stated that the birth of a child, especially in the New Year, brings good fortune to both families and society.
“I do this every year to welcome our new babies into the world, celebrate with their families, and show our love, kindness, and gratitude to God.
“I am impressed with the health workers and their relentless efforts in providing effective services to mothers and babies,” she said.
She also encouraged mothers to adopt a healthy lifestyle and practise exclusive breastfeeding for six months, highlighting its benefits for both the child’s health and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, urged mothers to take advantage of the state government’s free ante-natal and delivery services, as well as immunisation programmes.
In Rivers State, the governor’s wife, Lady Valerie Fubara, visited the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, where she donated items to the first New Year babies and their families.
According a statement by the Government House Press Unit, during the visit at UPTH, Lady Fubara, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Prof. Justina Jumbo, said the gesture was to identify with the babies and their mothers, and show them love as we step into 2025.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after visiting the New Year baby, Little Miss Jaja, and other babies at UPTH, Lady Fubara thanked God for the safe delivery of the baby, and assured that the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara would continue to support the vulnerable and underprivileged in society.
At RSUTH, the Rivers State First Lady donated some items to the first New Year baby at the hospital, Miss Godswill Vanessa Accra-Jaja, and four others, including several other babies delivered recently.
Represented at RSUTH by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Uchechukwu Uriri, Lady Fubara said she was passionate about rendering community service by identifying with babies born on Christmas and New Year days.
She said, “I am very privileged to welcome babies born on New Year day. The Governor’s wife is pleased to sustain this gesture of celebrating special babies born on special days like the New Year.”
Earlier in his remarks, a representative of the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Datonye Alasia, thanked the wife of the Rivers State Governor for the gesture, and pledged the commitment of the hospital to render quality healthcare services in the State.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director, RSUTH, Prof Chizindu Alikor, expressed gratitude to the wife of the Governor for the visit, stating that RSUTH has been equipped by the administration of Governor Fubara to carry out effective tertiary healthcare services in the State.
