Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, and governors’ wives in different states yesterday welcomed babies born on the first day of the New Year. Speaking at Bwari General Hospital, Abuja where she went to present gifts to the first baby born this year, Buhari urged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding.
The baby, Oworchoya Daniel Okpe, was born at 12.02a.m. to Mr and Mrs Joseph Onoja Okpe.
Buhari was represented by a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, and the wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mrs Olu Boss Mustapha. Five boys, three girls and two sets of twins were also born at the hospital.
In Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, underscored the importance of routine immunisation and post-natal care for the survival and growth of new born babies.
Speaking while presenting gifts to first babies of the year at three General Hospitals, Ambode said just like the New Year, the birth of a new baby brings hope.
She said: “The arrival of a new born generally symbolises passing the baton to the next generation. In our culture as in many others, a new baby is a messenger of hope, indicating good fortune for the family and society. I wish to emphasise that post-natal care of the baby is just as important as the ante-natal.”
The hospitals visited are Ikorodu General Hospital, Gbagada General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.
At Ikorodu, the first babies were twins delivered at 12:23a.m. and 12:24a.m. weighing 2.9kg and 3.29kg respectively. Mother’s packs, baby essentials and other baby gifts were presented to the babies and their parents and other babies in the ward by the governor’s wife.
Similarly, the wife of the Rivers State governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Wike, told the people to look forward to a fruitful and rewarding year.
Wike, who was at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital and Police Medical Clinic in Port Harcourt, said 2018 would be a year of jubilation.
She visited Baby Precious Nweke at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital and Baby Olotoruwa Oluwatosin at the Police Medical Clinic.
The governor’s wife said she led top government officials and wives of commissioners to show them love. She said the New Year’s babies were Rivers children despite the states of origin of their parents.
Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Oyo State governor, yesterday presented gifts to newly born babies and other children in the state.
Ajimobi, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Folake Oshunkoya, led others to various hospitals with gifts.
The first three babies born on New Year’s Day, were presented with cash and other gifts, while several other gifts were given to other children at various state-owned hospitals.
Among the hospitals visited were Jericho Specialist Hospital, Oni Memorial Children’s Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu’ all in Ibadan.
The first babies were a set of twins (boys) delivered about 1a.m. at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.
Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, presented gifts and cash to the three babies of the year at the State General Hospital in Akure.
Mrs. Ifedayo Raphael gave birth to the first baby of the year about 3a.m.
While congratulating the parents, she assured the citizens of the state of the readiness of her husband’s administration to provide quality health services.
Osun State governor’s wife, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, presented gifts to parents of the first baby in the state, Mr and Mrs Okewumi Abodun, at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
Also, wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, presented gifts to the mother of the first baby of the year in the state, Mrs. Jumoke Olokodana, at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
The baby boy was delivered at 12.45a.m.
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