It was celebration galore at the General Hospital, Ikorodu on January 1, 2020, as Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, and his wife, Olori Kudirat, visited to shower cash and gift items on the first baby that was born in the hospital in the New Year.
Since his ascension to the Ayangbure throne four years ago, Oba Shotobi and his Olori have made it a tradition to embark on the annual visit to celebrate the New Year day with mothers and babies at the hospital and particularly to present cash and gift items to the first baby of the year.
This year, the royal couple was accompanied on the visit by host of Baales and dignitaries and they were ceremonially received by the hospital management led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Olufunmi Bankole.
The royal couple were led to the maternity ward by the hospital officials where they presented cash and some gift items to the mother of the first baby of the year, Mrs. Nneka Bardi, a 34 year old woman whose baby boy was delivered at 12:01am.
The hospital management wand the Rotary Club, Ikorodu, also present gift items to the first baby of the year and his mother.
Also showered with cash and gift items was the mother of the second baby of the year, 27 year old Beauty Okwaghe whose baby boy was born at 12:05a.m.
Other mothers who had just put to bed in the hospital also benefited from the kind gestures of the kabiyesi and his Olori as they were equally presented with cash and gift items.
Mrs. Bardi, the mother of the first baby of the year, while speaking with Oriwu Sun stated that she was overwhelmed with joy by the gesture of Oba Shotobi and his wife.
“I feel so happy and overwhelmed with joy. I appreciated Oba Shotobi, his Olori and everybody for the love and gifts.
“The hospital (General) is very nice contrary to all sorts of things that I have been hearing about it. The staff in this hospital are very nice. They are very good at their work. I delivered as soon as I came to the hospital.
“On behalf of my family, I want to thank His Royal Majesty and his wife for their kindness. I want to thank them for showing me and my son love today. I pray that God will continue to bless them.
“God will continue to provide for them and protect them. He will grant them listening ears to know what the people want from them as the leaders of the community,” she prayed.
Meanwhile, Oba Kabir Shotobi, in an interview, stated that the Ikorodu General Hospital is a baby of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ikorodu Division.
“The Ikorodu General Hospital is a baby of the council of Obas and Chiefs in the division and we shall continue to support it.
“I met the tradition of giving gifts to the mothers in the hospital at every first day of the New Year and I have continue with that since mounted the throne four years ago.
“I appreciate all the doctors and nurses for the care they are giving to the mothers and their children.
“Our major aim is the first baby of the year but gifts and cash have also been given to other mothers in the wards too,” he stated.
The monarch, while expressing his happiness that most of the mothers in the wards delivered male children unlike last year when female children were delivered, jokingly said that the feat was as a result of the prayers he offered to request for more male children in his kingdom.
He commended the new Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olufunmi Bankole, and stated that he will give a good recommendation about her to the governor.
“The new Medical Director has been working effectively. We have been hearing great news about her. You can see the environment that it is neat and well organized. That is part of the reason we visited the hospital to see things by ourselves.
“We can see that all the doctors, nurses, those working in the kitchen and pharmacists are happy and the happiness is radiating all over the place. They are doing their job with passion.
“I will definitely see the Governor and tell him about this. Ikorodu General Hospital deserves to be upgraded,” Oba Shotobi stated.
“I will continue to appeal to the people not to encroach on government land. Many people and groups are still going to develop this place and once the land has been encroached upon, it will be difficult for the government and other group to develop this place,” he appealed.
He stated that he will continue to talk with his chiefs to donate lands in their respective domains for the purpose of making lands available for medical facilities and other developments across Ikorodu community.”
Oba Shotobi also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for given priority to health in the year 2020 budget which he described as a landmark in the history of Lagos state.
And while giving his New Year message to the people of Ikorodu, the monarch urged them to regularly and promptly pay their taxes to support the government in raising the required money to finance this year’s budget.
