Dr Nonye Soludo, wife of the Anambra State Governor, has celebrated the first batch of “New Year” babies of 2026 delivered in different hospitals across the state, presenting them with gifts and cash to mark their arrival.
Maintaining her annual custom of honouring babies born on New Year’s Day, Dr Soludo visited several hospitals on Friday, where she met the newborns and their mothers.
The governor’s wife, who also founded Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo, shared memorable moments with the families and expressed delight at hearing testimonies from mothers who received antenatal care and gave birth — including through C-section — at no cost.
The initiative is part of the Anambra State Government’s free antenatal and delivery programme in public hospitals, which has been in operation for three years.
During the visit, Dr Soludo offered prayers of gratitude, thanking God for the children and wishing that they would grow in peace, grace, and favour to become assets to the state.
To commemorate the births, she presented the babies and their mothers with items such as food hampers, milk, groundnut oil, sanitary materials, and cash, noting that the support was meant to aid the mothers’ nutrition and general well-being during the nursing period.
She described the births as a symbolic and joyful start to the year, adding that they highlight the progress and effectiveness of Anambra State’s primary healthcare system. She also urged expectant and nursing mothers to trust and utilize government-owned health facilities.
She said, “Earlier today, we continued our yearly tradition of visiting and celebrating babies born on New Year’s Day in Anambra State. We call them “New Year Babies.
“We consider this spiritual journey an important task each year. For us, it’s a time to pay homage to God’s great gifts and also take part in the fruits of his divine blessings, through these children, in whose hands we wish to bequeath the future of our state.
“I was equally pleased to hear exciting testimonies from mothers who did antenatal care and had their delivery (including C-Section births) all at zero costs, courtesy of our three-year-old free antenatal and delivery services in public hospitals in Anambra State.
“We thank God for the gift of our children. May they grow up to be the pride of our great state.”
