News
CELEBRATING LIFE: Lagos Welcomes First Babies of the Year in three General Hospitals
……. As First Lady Reaffirms Commitment to Maternal and Child Health at 2025 Celebration, Lauds Healthcare Workers
First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has today celebrated the arrival of the first babies of 2025 across three general hospitals in the state.
Amid smiles and applause, Baby Olaolu, Twins Osayomi, and Baby Lawal were warmly welcomed as symbols of a promising year ahead.
The celebrations took place at Ikorodu General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, and Isolo General Hospital, where the First Lady joined by the Wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat presented gifts to the newborns and their families.
Baby Olaolu, a girl weighing 2.75kg, was the first baby of the year at Ikorodu General Hospital, born at 12:34 a.m.
Twins Osayomi, delivered at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, included a girl (2.5kg) born at 12:14 a.m. and a boy (2.049kg) at 12:15 a.m.
At Isolo General Hospital, Baby Lawal, a boy weighing 2.7kg, was born at 1:32 a.m.
In her warm address at the events, Dr. Sanwo-Olu highlighted the importance of celebrating new life as a symbol of hope, continuity, and resilience.
“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.
The First Lady also reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to advancing maternal and child healthcare.
She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for its strides in health infrastructure, including the establishment of the Lagos State Medical University and grassroots health initiatives like the Tuberculosis Ambassadors program.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu used the occasion to appreciate healthcare professionals for their dedication. At Ikorodu General Hospital, she lauded the medical director and staff for their positive attitude and improved service delivery.
Similar commendations were extended to the teams at Ifako-Ijaiye and Isolo General Hospitals for their outstanding contributions to patient care.
The First Lady also expressed gratitude to philanthropic organizations, NGOs, and corporate partners for their support.
“Your contributions have significantly boosted our healthcare delivery. I encourage more partnerships to enhance services across the state,” she said.
The Lagos State Government has championed numerous maternal and child health initiatives, including breastfeeding campaigns and the Maternal and Child Health Week.
These efforts, Dr. Sanwo-Olu noted, have significantly improved outcomes for mothers and children.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the day, Dr. Sanwo-Olu encouraged residents to embrace healthy lifestyles and leverage available healthcare programs.
She emphasized the collective responsibility in fostering societal welfare, likening it to the care required for nurturing a newborn.
The celebratory event also served as a platform to recognize the contributions of community leaders, chiefs, and individuals who support healthcare projects. Dr. Sanwo-Olu urged them to sustain their efforts and inspire others to join in.
To the proud parents of the first babies, the First Lady extended heartfelt congratulations. She assured them of Lagos State’s continued support and prayed for the children’s well-being and prosperity.
“May these babies grow into responsible citizens and nation-builders,” she added.
Earlier, in her address at Ikorodu General Hospital, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi expressed her joy and gratitude for witnessing the occasion alongside Her Excellency, Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and other dignitaries.
She congratulated the first baby of the year and emphasized the State’s commitment to reducing maternal, neonatal, and child morbidity and mortality through interventions such as the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme.
Dr. Ogunyemi highlighted the remarkable achievements of Ikorodu General Hospital, including impressive patient statistics from the past year, which underscore the dedication of the healthcare workforce.
She used the opportunity to encourage Lagosians to enroll in the State Health Insurance Scheme to enhance access to affordable and quality healthcare services.
She celebrated the birth of Baby Olaolu, the first baby of the year at Ikorodu General Hospital, and wished her a bright future as a beacon of hope and progress.
Dr. Ogunyemi also called on all parents and citizens to support the State Government’s healthcare initiatives actively, ensuring sustainable quality healthcare delivery across the State.
Speaking at the Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin expressed delight at the celebration of the First Baby of the Year 2025, which featured the delivery of a set of twins.
She commended the Lagos State Government, led by Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for its unwavering dedication to reducing maternal and child mortality and improving healthcare accessibility across the State.
Barr. Salu-Hundeyin praised the remarkable achievements of Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, emphasizing the critical role of healthcare workers in achieving exceptional outcomes despite challenges.
She congratulated the parents of the twins and highlighted the importance of enrolling in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee equitable access to healthcare services for all residents.
At the Isolo General Hospital, Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Atinuke Onayiga celebrated the delivery of Baby Damilola Lawal as the first baby of the year, born at 1:32 a.m.
She acknowledged the dedication of healthcare workers at the hospital, whose exceptional efforts led to notable achievements in 2024, including impressive service statistics across various medical units.
Dr. Onayiga lauded the State Government’s leadership and innovative healthcare interventions, which continue to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality rates.
She called on individuals and corporate organizations to collaborate with the State Government to sustain and improve healthcare service delivery for the benefit of Lagosians.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, in his remarks, commended the Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for her steadfast commitment to sustaining the tradition of celebrating the First Baby of the Year.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ogboye underscored the Ministry of Health’s dedication to achieving milestones in maternal and child healthcare through initiatives such as ILERA EKO and other strategic health interventions.
He congratulated the families of the celebrants and applauded the outstanding healthcare teams across Lagos State for their resilience and dedication.
Dr. Ogboye also reiterated the importance of collective efforts to enroll in the State Health Insurance Scheme, enabling seamless access to healthcare for all.
The First Lady was also joined at the event by the Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State in the National Population Commission (NPC), Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Female Lagos State Executive Council Members; Members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries; Members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials; Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas and other Top Government Officials.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing evidence-based policies that will modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector and position it as a key driver of national economic growth.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, reiterated this position on Friday, 12th December 2025, when he received Her Excellency, Philda Nani Kereng, High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
He emphasised that the nation can no longer rely on outdated systems but must embrace structured reforms that support productivity, enhance value addition, and create sustainable livelihoods for farmers and livestock value-chain actors.
“The Botswana experience is a major inspiration. Your nation has achieved in 50 years what the world continues to study, and we are interested in domesticating many of those lessons,” the Minister said.
“Nigeria, as the largest market in Africa, is ready to expand its livestock sector to compete globally, while also partnering with Botswana to accelerate the journey,” he added, noting the country’s unique success in exporting beef to Europe, managing transboundary diseases, and integrating technology in livestock traceability.
He stressed Nigeria’s readiness to learn from Botswana’s model, especially as the Ministry moves to rehabilitate and modernise 417 grazing reserves across the country into structured ranching ecosystems.
In her remarks, the High Commissioner highlighted Botswana’s five-decade success story in beef production and export to the European market, describing it as a product of deliberate policies, strong governance structures, and extensive farmer support systems.
She explained that Botswana’s livestock sector grew from a rural development model that prioritised agriculture, backed by policies and laws enabling farmers to produce high-quality cattle for livelihood improvement and national economic growth.
Her Excellency noted that Botswana’s beef sector, second only to diamonds in national revenue, thrives on strict disease-control systems, communal land management, targeted veterinary interventions, and highly subsidised farmer support programmes.
She outlined several areas where Botswana is prepared to collaborate with Nigeria, including beef quality improvement through enhanced genetics, modern abattoir practices, disease management, veterinary protocols, vaccine production, livestock traceability and grazing management.
News
JUST IN: Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda, Overrides President’s Pardon
Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Friday overturned the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, the Abuja housewife convicted of stabbing her husband to death in 2018, reinstating her original death sentence by hanging.
Sanda, 37, was sentenced to death in January 2020 by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court for culpable homicide punishable with death after she fatally stabbed Bilyaminu Bello during a heated domestic dispute over alleged infidelity. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in December 2020, and the Supreme Court affirmed it in 2023, exhausting her appeals.
In October 2025, President Bola Tinubu initially granted Sanda a full pardon as part of clemency extended to 175 convicts, citing her family’s pleas for the sake of her two children, her good conduct in prison, and remorse. However, amid public backlash, the administration revised the decision, commuting her sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate grounds.
The Supreme Court’s 4-1 majority decision, delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, dismissed Sanda’s final appeal as meritless. Adumein ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, affirming the lower courts’ findings that Sanda’s actions constituted intentional murder.
Crucially, the apex court held that the executive branch’s exercise of pardon powers under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution was invalid in this instance, as Sanda’s appeal was still pending before the judiciary at the time of the grant. “It was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide in respect of which an appeal was pending,” Justice Adumein stated in the lead judgment.
The dissenting justice argued for upholding the commutation, emphasizing humanitarian considerations for Sanda’s children and her time served—over seven years at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
The ruling has reignited national debates on the separation of powers, domestic violence, and the application of the death penalty. Sanda’s family expressed devastation, while Bello’s relatives hailed the decision as long-overdue justice. Rights groups decried the outcome, calling for legislative reforms on prerogative of mercy.
Sanda remains in custody pending any further legal maneuvers, though options appear exhausted. The Attorney General’s office confirmed investigations into the pardon process’s procedural flaws.
News
Bayelsa deputy gov Ewhrudjakpo dies at 60
Senator Ewhurudjakpo, 60, an associate of Senator Seriake Dickson, was one of the elected officials, who insisted on remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and refused to defect with Governor Duoye Diri to the All Progressives Congress, APC,
•Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is dead,aged 60.
Ewhrudjakpo collapsed yesterday while descending a staircase shortly after a meeting in his office .
He was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.
Hospital sources disclosed that he arrived unconscious and was moved to the Emergency Unit before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and efforts to revive him failed.
His media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the incident but did not provide further details.
Sympathizers stormed the hospital in large numbers after the news broke, forcing security personnel to tighten control around the facility.
Ewhrudjakpo was born on September 5, 1965. He had served as deputy governor since 2020, represented Bayelsa West in the Senate, and previously held the position of Commissioner for Works.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong confirmed the demise of the deputy governor, which it described as inexplicable.
Senator Ewhurudjakpo, 60, an associate of Senator Seriake Dickson, was one of the elected officials, who insisted on remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and refused to defect with Governor Duoye Diri to the All Progressives Congress, APC, recently.
Ewhrudjakpo, once a close political ally of Governor Diri, reportedly fell out with his principal after refusing to follow him in resigning from the PDP on October 15.
Fans vandalise Indian stadium after Messi’s abrupt exit
Botswana, Nigeria Explore Deeper Collaboration in Livestock Development (Photos)
GTCO Unveils First-Ever Holiday Edition of Food & Drink Festival, Scheduled for December 20–21, 2025
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
News2 days agoMARKETING EDGE publisher John Ajayi dies at 62
-
News2 days agoBayelsa deputy gov Ewhrudjakpo dies at 60
-
News2 days agoDangote Launches N1trn Education Fund to Support 1.3m Students
-
News1 day agoJUST IN: Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda, Overrides President’s Pardon
-
News10 hours agoBotswana, Nigeria Explore Deeper Collaboration in Livestock Development (Photos)
-
Business17 hours agoGTCO Unveils First-Ever Holiday Edition of Food & Drink Festival, Scheduled for December 20–21, 2025
-
Business2 days agoBOI, NCGC sign N10bn loans for women in business
-
Sports8 hours agoFans vandalise Indian stadium after Messi’s abrupt exit