Kemi Olatunde

The First Lady of Ondo State, represented by Deaconess Lola Fagbemi, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, has presented gift items to babies born between the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.

Accompanying her were the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka; the Director-General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin; the representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Director of Public Health, Dr. Richard Adesoji; and the representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Director of Laboratory Services, Dr. Israel Adeyemi.

On Wednesday, Fagbemi presented gifts to the first baby born in 2025 at the State Specialist Hospital, Oke-Aro, Akure. The baby, a boy named Awobona, was born at 8:20 am, weighing 2.9kg.

The First Lady expressed gratitude to God for the safe delivery and congratulated the parents, Mr and Mrs Awobona, on the arrival of their child, urging them to ensure the boy’s proper care so he may grow into a responsible citizen of the state.

Two babies born on Christmas Day, Baby Adedokun (boy) and Baby Betiku (girl), also received gifts as the 2024 Christmas babies of the facility, while Baby Ogunmola (girl) received a gift as the last baby of the year 2024.

At the Arakale Comprehensive Health Centre, Baby Emmanuel (a boy) was born at exactly 12:15 am on January 1, 2025, and received a gift as the first baby of the year.

Additionally, two Christmas babies, Baby Emmanuel (a boy, weighing 4.1kg), born on December 25, 2024, at 12:27 am, and Baby Falana (a boy, weighing 3.0kg), born on the same day, were presented with Christmas gifts. Baby Akinwunmi (a girl, weighing 3.4kg), the last baby of 2024, also received a gift.

Dr. Adeyemi Osowe, Director of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Akure South, presented the babies to the First Lady and praised Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his impactful initiatives in the health sector.

He lauded the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state and urged the governor to address the pending allowances of health workers and the non-implementation of the minimum wage for these workers.

Speaking to The Hope after presenting the gifts to the newborns, the First Lady emphasised the importance of teamwork between parents in the care of their children.

She commended health workers for their dedication and professionalism in ensuring safe deliveries and called on them to continue their good work to improve healthcare delivery in the new year.

She assured that the government is committed to introducing initiatives and policies to protect the welfare of children in the state.

“The Government of Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is focused on enhancing maternal and child policies to unlock every child’s potential in the state. On this note, I charge parents to raise their children with good morals so they can become responsible citizens. They should embrace exclusive breastfeeding and family planning.”

Also speaking with The Hope, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin, DG of the ODCHC, announced that enrolment for ORANGHIS for the formal sector would begin in January 2025.

He added that the commission is committed to improving the various insurance products to benefit beneficiaries.