By Victoria Ojeme

First lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerian mothers to practice exclusive Breastfeeding and also advised expectant mothers to take anti-natel and postnatal seriously.

She made the call at the National Hospital, where she welcomed the first baby born in the new year, 2024, yesterday in Abuja.

Joined by wife of the Vce President, Baba Shetima and the minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, She said “Nursing mothers must take adequate care of their babies, ensure that they are immunized as and when due, practice exclusive breastfeeding to provide them with adequate nutritious and healthy weaning food for proper brain development.

“Expectant mothers should always take antenatal and postnatal care seriously, maintain basic sanitation and hygiene at home, space their birth, register their babies with the National Population Commission, and make efforts to enroll them in school at the appropriate age.

“On our path through the Renewed Hope Initiative, we are working in collaboration with UNICEF to ensure all births in Nigeria are duly registered in order to ensure the rights and protection of all our children.

“I also charge our women to take steps to know their HIV/AIDS status to enable them to take adequate care of themselves and prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV AIDS, particularly for pregnant and nursing mothers,” she said

Expressing her delight to welcome the first baby of 2024 born to the family of Johnson Bolutife, she said “I welcome baby Boluwatife Johnson, the first baby of the year 2024. I congratulate the parents of the first baby of the year, all other babies born in the federal capital territory in Nigeria today. I appreciate all our health care professionals, volunteers, and individuals who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of our mothers and children.

“May this baby, our very first baby, bring renewed hope, boundless joy, and a shared assurance of better days for our nation. Our nation shall know rest and peace and prosperity and all the bounties that God can give us at this time. In Jesus name, I wish you all a prosperous new year.

“This event holds immense significance as it symbolizes hope, new beginnings, and the promise of better days for our beloved country.

“It is a moment not only to celebrate the birth of this beautiful baby, but also to acknowledge the profound significance that each new life has on us as a society.”

In her remarks, The Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Kennedy-Ohaneye, pointed to the significance of celebrating the first baby born in the year in renewing the hope of the common man regarding government’s support for healthy and well nutured children.

Appreciating God and the government for the visit, mother of the child, Mrs. Boluwatife, said “I am short of words to express how I feel but I just want to say that I feel honoured and pleasantly surprised because we did not know he will be born today and as the first baby of the year. He is a child that has brought glory and blessings to our family.

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