Anambra First Lady Welcomes First Babies of 2026

First Lady of Anambra State Dr Mrs Nonye Soludo

The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr. Nonye Soludo, on Thursday visited selected hospitals across the state to welcome the first babies born on New Year’s Day, 2026.
During the visits, the wife of the Governor who is also the founder of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative presented gifts and cash support to the newborns and their mothers as part of her annual New Year Babies celebration.
Dr. Soludo continued the hospital visits on Friday, spending quality time with the first babies of the year and their mothers.
She shared moments of joy with the families, offering words of encouragement and prayers for the healthy upbringing of the children.
Expressing deep satisfaction, the First Lady highlighted the testimonies of mothers who benefited from free antenatal care and delivery services, including caesarean sections, under the Anambra State Government’s free maternal healthcare programme.
She noted that the initiative, now in its third year, provides free antenatal and delivery services in all public hospitals across the state.
Dr. Soludo described the annual tradition of celebrating babies born on January 1—popularly known as the “New Year Babies”—as a symbolic and spiritual exercise that marks the beginning of each year.
According to her, the initiative is designed to celebrate life, honour God’s blessings, and reaffirm hope for the future of the state through its youngest citizens.
She emphasized that the visit represents a moment of thanksgiving and reflection, acknowledging the children as divine gifts and custodians of Anambra State’s future.
“I was equally pleased to hear heartwarming testimonies from mothers who received antenatal care and had their deliveries, including C-section births, at zero cost through our three-year-old free antenatal and delivery services in public hospitals across Anambra State,” she said.
Dr. Soludo thanked God for the gift of children and prayed that the newborns would grow to become responsible citizens and the pride of Anambra State.
“We thank God for the gift of our children. May they grow up to be the pride of our great state,” she added.