Female student abandons newborn in Kwara hospital; baby received by state government
Kwara State authorities have taken custody of a newborn abandoned by her mother, identified as a student, and placed the child under the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs on Friday. The state reaffirmed its commitment to protecting orphans and vulnerable children.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Opeyemi Oluwakemi, stated that the baby, delivered on Thursday, was brought to the ministry from Apalara Medical Hospital by police officer Medinat Garuba and the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Giwa Luqman.
A statement by Iyanu Lawal, Press Secretary for the ministry, said Oluwakemi assured that the government would provide the newborn with all necessary medical and physical care, while commending citizens who assisted in bringing the baby to the ministry.
The Chief Medical Director of Apalara Hospital, Luqman, revealed that the baby’s mother had initially sought to terminate the pregnancy, but counseling convinced her to carry it to term. However, she later abandoned the baby after delivery.
Oluwakemi emphasized that under the Child Rights Law, abandoned babies can be reintegrated into society through fostering or adoption, following proper procedures and allowing sufficient time for mothers to reconsider their decisions.
