Kunle Adelabu
The tradition of visiting the first baby of the year at the General Hospital Ikorodu and presenting gift items continued today as a high – powered delegation, led by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Oba) Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, visited the hospital to present cash and gift items to the first two babies born in 2023.
The first baby of the year was born at 12am into the family of Mr & Mrs Lanre Lawanson from Ondo State, while the second baby was born at 1.45am into the family of Mr & Mrs Okikiola Inko –Tariah.
The Ayangbure who arrived at the General Hospital premises with family members, palace aides and chiefs, was welcomed by the Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Dr Taiwo Hassan, his management team and staff, as well as Mr Rotimi Akeem Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (KODASS) and members of his executives.
Also joining the entourage, Rot. Abdullahi Amusa Abiola, President, Rotaract Club of Ikorodu, the youth arm of the Rotary International, and his team.
Oba Shotobi presented cash and special gift items to first and second babies of the year, and also extended the same gesture to other mothers across the wards of the GH.
In the vein, IKODASS and Rotaract Club also presented gift items to the first baby of the year.
Dr Taiwo Hassan, providing details on the babies of the year while addressing the royal father and his team, said:
“Today, we are here to celebrate the first baby of the year. We actually had two babies this morning. We had baby Lawson (female) at 12am who weighs 3.9kilogram and at 1.40am, we also had another baby who is also a female, and she weighs 2.23.2kilogram”,
He thanked the governor of Lagos State and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu for their support for the hospital.
“We thank His Excellency, Governor Sanwo – Olu, for giving us the opportunity, and for supporting us massively to be able to do massive transformation in the hospital”, the MD said.
“I also want to thank Ayangbure who is my father. He has supported this hospital greatly, and I still count on his support.
“He has been coming to felicitate us year – in and year-out to give the baby of the year gifts. It’s not only the first baby that he felicitates, he also gives gifts and cash to every baby in the ward. Thank you Ayangbure”, he added.
Oba Shotobi, speaking, prayed for the mother of the baby of 2023, and other mothers in the ward for their full recovery.
Meanwhile, speaking with THE IMPACT, the royal father said that 2023 will be a year of new beginning in Ikorodu.
“We are rejoicing. This is the beginning of another dawn. 2023 is a year of blessings and we are celebrating Christmas and New Year, which is a period of gifts and mercy and expression of love to our neighbours”, Oba Shotobi said.
“It’s also a new dawn in the General Hospital Ikorodu. When I entered today, I was elated, happy and delighted to see the well – kept environment without any hospital odour. I felt like partnering with the patients and sleep beside them. That shows that they are under the care of the hospital management under the leadership of Dr Taiwo Hassan, the Medical Director. I appreciate him, his team, nurses and I am pleased with all the workers”.
Oba Shotobi said that the birth of girls as first and second babies of the year is a sign of good things for Ikorodu in 2023, adding that Ikorodu is a city where there is gender equality.
“Ikorodu recording girls as first and second babies of 2023 is a sign that positive things will happen in 2023. My first child is a girl and a girl – child is as good as male child. There is no gender inequality in Ikorodu. We are one and the same under God”, the royal father said.
“Ikorodu is known for gender equality and there is no ill – feeling towards girl – children.
“I am pleased to see them”, the royal father said.
The Chairman, IKODASS, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo also speaking with THE IMPACT on the visitation to the first baby of the year at the GH Ikorodu, said:
“This has always been the tradition, and it’s not only in Ikorodu but all over the world. IKODASS, being a major organization in Ikorodu, has always been joining the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and the Management of the General Hospital to celebrate with the first baby of the year”, Mr Erogbogbo said.
“We are here to present gifts to the babies and wish them well.
“We are also here to encourage the general hospital to do more in their activities in 2023. It is part of our motivational visit and sharing words of encouragement with them, and I am sure that they will do better than they did in 2022”, he added.
Rot. Abdullahi Amusa Abiola, President, Rotaract Club of Ikorodu, the youth arm of the Rotary International, in his own remarks, said that the visitation was part of the activities on the humanitarian organisation’s annual calendar.
“As part of our engagements every calendar year, one of the areas of focus is maternal and child health. In that regard, we, as Rotaract Club, always deem it fit to felicitate the first and second baby of the year”, he said.
“We deemed it fit to be part of the Kabiyesi’s entourage for the visit”.
Mr Lanre Lawanson, father of the first baby of the year described the royal fathers and others gesture as special while also thanking them.
