News

CELEBRATING LIFE: Lagos Welcomes First Babies of the Year in three General Hospitals

Published

1 year ago

January 1, 2025

Charles Flames

302 Views

……. 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.

Related Topics:Featured First Babies First Lady Lagos State

Up Next

President Tinubu receive autographed glove from Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua

Don't Miss

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Welcomes Baby of the Year 2025 , Choma Oyigbo

Click to comment

News

UK begins Alison-Madueke’s trial on bribery charges

Alison-Madueke sat in the dock alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who is charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Published

5 hours ago

January 27, 2026

OCHEFA

11 Views

The alleged corruption trial of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke commenced on Tuesday at the London’s Southwark Crown Court.

British prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke took bribes including luxury goods and the use of high-end properties from industry figures interested in lucrative oil and gas contracts, when she was minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan and was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the first woman to hold either role.

According to Reuters, the 65-year-old is now one of the most high-profile former energy officials to stand trial for alleged corruption, having been charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denies.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy told jurors at London’s Southwark Crown Court that Alison-Madueke “enjoyed a life of luxury in London”, where she often stayed, provided by those interested in being awarded or retaining contracts with Nigerian state-owned companies.

Healy said Alison-Madueke was given the use of high-end properties and vast quantities of luxury goods by people who “clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them”.

There was no evidence that Alison-Madueke awarded contracts to someone who should not have had one, Healy said.

But given Alison-Madueke’s role “she should not have accepted benefits from those who were no doubt doing extremely lucrative business in oil and gas with government-owned entities”, Healy added.

News

Bello Turji member of APC? It’s not true – Morka, APC spokesman

APC attributed the circulation of the document to “mischief makers” seeking to create confusion and foster discord within the polity for their own sinister objectives.

Published

6 hours ago

January 27, 2026

OCHEFA

15 Views

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially debunked a viral social media post claiming that the notorious terror kingpin, Mohammed Bello Turji, has been registered as one of its members.

Reacting to the controversy on Tuesday, party spokesman Felix Morka described the purported membership slip as a “vile fabrication” designed by mischief-makers to mislead the public and tarnish the party’s image.

The APC clarified that the document, which allegedly emerged from the party’s ongoing Electronic Registration and Validation Exercise, bears no connection to its official database.Morka pointed out several glaring inconsistencies that expose the document as a crude forgery.

Specifically, the party noted that the fake slip claims Turji was registered in a “Ward 13” of the Shinkafi Local Government Area in Zamfara State.

However, official records show that Shinkafi LGA has only 10 wards, rendering the information on the slip geographically impossible.

“All digital parameters represented on the fake slip bear no connection to our Party’s membership register.

All other information paraded on the fake slip is nonexistent and certainly not contained in our membership database”, the party stated.

APC attributed the circulation of the document to “mischief makers” seeking to create confusion and foster discord within the polity for their own sinister objectives.

News

“I was never chased out of my office” – Wike

Wike disclosed that over ₦12 billion had just been approved for the payment of January salaries, describing the move as evidence of the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.

Published

6 hours ago

January 27, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

“I was never chased out of my office,” FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, told journalists today in Abuja.

Wike accused unnamed politicians and senior civil servants of fueling the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The aggrieved workers are calling for his sack over months of unpaid salaries and allowances, but Wike told journalists shortly after the National Industrial Court ordered an end to the industrial action, which has disrupted public services in Abuja for more than a week, that the strike had gone beyond workers’ welfare issues and was being exploited for political purposes, despite ongoing efforts by the administration to resolve the dispute through dialogue.

“The administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike,” Wike said, adding that several of the demands raised by workers were either unreasonable or had already been addressed.

He maintained that the FCTA had taken concrete steps to address workers’ concerns, including salary payments and reforms within the civil service.

Wike disclosed that over ₦12 billion had just been approved for the payment of January salaries, describing the move as evidence of the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.

The minister also pointed to improved revenue performance under his leadership, stating that the FCT had generated more than ₦30 billion in Internally Generated Revenue, a significant increase compared to previous years.

Wike urged workers to acknowledge reforms undertaken by the administration, including the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and investments in infrastructure across the territory