The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has celebrated the nation’s First Baby of the Year in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Master Johnson Boluwatife, praying that his birth would bring renewed hope, boundless joy and shared assurance of better days for the country.
The baby was born at 12.03am on Monday.
The First Lady made the statement Monday at the National Hospital, Abuja, the birth place of the First baby of year 2024 during the annual celebration to mark the day.
She said: “The occasion holds immense significance as it symbolises hope, new beginnings and the promise of better days for our beloved country.”
Tinubu, who expressed her commitment to enhancing an environment that nurtures and supports the well-being of children in a safe and loving home through access to quality education and health care, explained that this is aimed at making them leaders, innovators and change makers of the future.
She therefore called on mothers to ensure adequate precautionary measures are taken during antenatal and post natal periods while also leaving no gaps in ensuring the physical and mental well-being of their children.
She said: “On our part, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), we are working with the UNICEF to ensure that all births in Nigeria are duly registered in order to ensure the rights and protection of all our children.”
The First Lady commended all the health care professionals, volunteers and individuals who work tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of Nigerian mothers and children.
Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, reiterated her ministry’s commitment to the care and development of the Nigerian child, mothers and the vulnerable.
She commended the First Lady for her dogged determination towards ensuring the upliftment of children and women, among others, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu Administration.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Prof. Mohammed Mahmood, thanked the First Lady, as well as the present administration, for their commitment to the mental and physical wellbeing of the citizens.
While expressing the appreciation of the management and staff of the Hospital for the visit, he appealed for more interventions to enable it sustain its legacy as the apex hospital in Nigeria.
The Mother of the Baby of the Year, Mrs Eunice Johnson, commended Senator Tinubu and her entourage for touching the lives of her family and others, in spite of the economic challenges facing the country.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, wife of the Minister for Works, Mrs Umahi, and the wife of the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Matawalle.
Highlights of the day, among others were, the release of funds for hospital bills of children suffering from cancer, kidney and other ailments, presentation of various gift items to infants and patients, as well as cash gifts to all First babies of the Year spanning 2012 – 2023.