Nigeria’s first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has highlighted the Federal Government’s dedication to creating an enabling environment where every Nigerian child can flourish and realise their full potential.
Senator Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while unveiling Nigeria’s First Baby of the Year 2026, born at exactly 12 midnight at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.
Baby Zion Adakole, born to Mr and Mrs Celestine Adakole, was delivered via caesarean section to 26-year-old first-time mother, Mrs Patience Adakole.
As part of her annual tradition aimed at spreading love and supporting maternal and child healthcare, the First Lady presented a National Birth Certificate, issued by the National Population Commission, to the newborn, officially recognising Zion as the Baby of the Year.
She also gave gifts and cash to the baby, extending similar gestures to other newborns at the hospital.
Describing the birth of Zion as symbolic, she said it marked both the start of a new year and the promise of new beginnings.
The First Lady also visited three other babies born on 1 January, including a set of quadruplets delivered to Mr and Mrs Blessing Oragwu after 13 years of waiting.
During the visit, she held each newborn and offered prayers for them, their families, and Nigerians at large.
She encouraged parents to cherish and nurture their children, describing them as blessings and future leaders of the nation.
Mrs Tinubu further called on Nigerians to embrace generosity, stressing that improving the lives of the less privileged is a shared responsibility.
The father of the First Baby, Mr Celestine Adakole Acheme, expressed his gratitude, saying:
“I didn’t expect this, but I would like to say that there is no better way to start a new year than this having my first child on the first day of the year and the first baby of the year. It’s fantastic; I feel really good and excited. I feel really good to meet the First Lady.
“Well, I would say a very big thank you to God in a million ways, because I really don’t… I’m short of words. I would just thank God; I will keep thanking God for the rest of my life,” he added.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who welcomed babies across two hospitals on the First Lady’s behalf, said:
“This is an annual gesture so that we can prioritise neonatal and maternal health in Nigeria. It is very important, especially in a country that has historically faced high maternal and infant mortality rates. Over the last year, we have seen significant progress. I would like to appreciate His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu.
“My message for the New Year, for women and all of us, is a message of generosity — that we must show love, learn to share, sow seeds this year, and reap the rewards of our actions,” she added.
The visit was attended by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Mr Aminu Yusuf, and other dignitaries.
