A lucky baby born on New Year Day, January 1, 2025, has received the blessing of the first lady-designate of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Helen Eno-Obareki.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the baby born into the family of Mr/Mrs Nsikan Ekanem Umoh, of Ukana Ikot Ntuen, the hometown of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in Essien Udim local government area, is the latest beneficiary of Mrs. Eno Obareki’s benevolence. Since the demise of the governor’s wife, Patience, last year, Mrs. Obareki has been coordinating the office’s activities.
Lady Obareki, who had paid an early visit to the maternity ward of the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, said the gesture was in keeping with the tradition of the office left behind by her compassionate mother, and accordingly showered cash and gift items to the baby boy, weighing 3.3kg, who was delivered in the wee hours of the new year day.
Besides, other newborns benefitted from Lady Obareki’s gesture of love, as she offered packages, especially to babies in critical conditions in the hospital.
For this, the children on admission in the children’s ward of the hospital thanked Lady Obareki and her delegation with the rendition of a special song.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise, Lady Helen Obareki prayed that the star baby and others at the ward would bring blessings, joy, peace and prosperity to their individual families, while those who are seeking for the fruit of the womb would have cause to celebrate before the end of 2025.
She said: “My prayers are that the baby would bring joy, peace, blessings and prosperity to his family and every other baby I saw in the ward; it’s my prayer that as their births have been received with joy, so will their lives bring joy to their families.
“I also pray for everyone who is seeking the fruit of the womb, that as this year has ushered in these new babies, God will also meet them at the point of their needs and bless them, so that in no distant future, we will also be celebrating them.”
The chief medical superintendent (CMS), Dr. Nene Andem, thanked Lady Obareki, for visiting the new year baby, explaining that “the newborn symbolises a fresh beginning,” and expressed the joy of the hospital staff members for the gesture.
