By RismadarVoice Media
January 1, 2026
Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, has welcomed the first baby of 2026 delivered at the Immanuel General Hospital, Eket, as part of its annual New Year outreach to maternity centres across the state.
The visit, led by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, took place in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Lady Obareki led a delegation of women to the maternity ward to celebrate the birth of a baby girl delivered a few minutes into the new year.
The newborn, a daughter of Mr Steven and Mrs Christiana David of Atabong village, Eket Local Government Area, weighed 3kg at birth. She is the family’s first daughter after a set of twin boys and was born on her father’s birthday, adding to the significance of the occasion.
In line with the tradition of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Obareki presented cash gifts and baby items to the newborn and her parents. She also congratulated the father on the double celebration of welcoming a child on his birthday.
During the visit, Lady Obareki offered prayers of thanksgiving for the safe delivery of the baby and extended goodwill to other mothers and newborns in the ward. She also visited a mother with a mental health condition who had delivered earlier, commending the hospital staff for their dedication, compassionate care.
Speaking to journalists, the Coordinator prayed that the newborn and other babies would bring joy, peace and prosperity to their families, and expressed hope that families trusting God for children would have cause to celebrate before the end of 2026.
She praised the management of Immanuel General Hospital for maintaining a clean, conducive environment for mothers, infants; appreciated the support of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Inibehe Silas Etukudo, as well as female stakeholders in Eket, who accompanied her on the visit.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Idongesit Ndaeyo Itaketo, and the Head of Nursing Services, Mrs Victoria Okposin, thanked the Office of the First Lady for its consistent support and encouragement to health facilities across the state.
