Photo: Apostle Queen Eton during the visit
By: Faith Okon-Egbujiem
The Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Her Excellency Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has celebrated babies born around Nigeria’s Independence Day with special gifts and financial support, as part of activities marking the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The First Lady, who made the gesture on Thursday, October 1, 2026, visited three hospitals in Calabar through her Special Adviser on Programmes and Events, Apostle Queen Eton who represented her at the facilities. The facilities include University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, General Hospital, Calabar and Navy Reference Hospital.
At the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and the General Hospital, the First Lady identified and celebrated three babies born on Independence Day, presenting each family with a comprehensive package comprising a bathing set, diaper set, tissue paper, water flask, a pack of detergent, a bottle of antiseptic (Dettol), a Mama and Baby Kit (which contains all requirements for pre-birth, birth and post-birth experience), as well as a cash gift of ₦100,000.
Other babies who had been delivered at the hospitals prior to Independence Day were also remembered, with the First Lady presenting them with Mama and Baby Kits as a gesture of care and support.
At the Navy Hospital, although there was no baby born on October 1, the First Lady extended the celebration to all the babies in the facility, presenting each of them with a Mama and Baby Kit.
The gesture was warmly received by the parents, who expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady for her thoughtfulness, generosity and commitment to the wellbeing of mothers and children across the state.
The parents, Mr Charles Chukwuemeka Ukah, Mr Nsing Nsing and Mrs Favour all described the gesture as a timely and meaningful intervention, particularly because the gifts were indeed what they needed. They commended the First Lady for remembering families at the point of childbirth and for extending her support beyond babies born specifically on Independence Day.
The gesture which has become a norm showcases the First Lady’s commitment to maternal and child welfare, one of the key areas of intervention under her humanitarian programmes in Cross River State.
In attendance were, the Commissioner for information, Hon. Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, the Senior Special Advicer to the First Lady on Administration, Dr Comfort Oko, Anthony Adah Jeffery Adamade, Pastor Odo Bassey, and Lizzy Awatt Special Assistants on General duties, NGO matters, Religious matters, and Political affairs.
