Lions Club International Celebrates First Babies Of The Year In Osun, Doles Out Cash, Food, Care Items

The Lions Club International under District 404B2 Nigeria on Thursday, celebrated the birth of the first babies, born in the year 2026. The event which took place at Osun State Government Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, was witness by fellow members of the Lions International, staff and patients of the maternity ward at the centre.

At least no fewer than five new born babies including their mothers were blessed with cash, food items, care items, including diapers, clothes, toiletries among others, as part of its annual humanitarian outreach

The programme, carried out by Lions of Regions 9 and 10 under the Osun Axis, had the attendance of members of the organisation led by the First Vice District Governor, Lion Oluomo Sunday Akere, on behalf of the District Governor, Lion Oluwakemi Eribake. The initiative is a long-standing tradition of the Lions Club, observed every first day of the year, to celebrate life and support nursing mothers.

Speaking during the gifts presentation, Lion Oluomo Sunday Akere said the visit to the hospital was in line with the club’s values of compassion and service to humanity.

“By our practice and tradition, every first day of the New Year, we always visit hospitals to give gifts to the first baby of the year”

“Just as the three wise men visited Jesus Christ at His birth with gifts, the Lions Club has made it a tradition to honour the first baby of the year with gifts”, he said.

Lion Akere explained that while a special package is reserved for the first baby of the year, other newborns in the maternity ward also benefited from the gesture, as part of the club’s broader humanitarian mission.

Delivering his New Year message to the people of Osun State and Nigerians in general, Lion Akere congratulated citizens for witnessing another year and urged them to remain hopeful amid national challenges.

“We must appreciate God for His mercy. For the first time in many years, Nigerians celebrated Christmas and New Year without widespread incidents of bombing across the country,” he noted, adding that the development points to measurable progress in national security efforts.

Lion Akere appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to pray for peace and stability in Osun State and the nation at large.

Also speaking, the Service Chairperson of Igbajo Achievers Lions Club, Lion Oluseyi Kayode Faniran, said the Babies of the Year programme is part of the club’s culture of complementing government efforts in caring for the less privileged.

“The government alone cannot take care of everyone, That is why clubs like Lions International always come around to support nursing mothers, their babies and their families,” he noted.

Lion Faniran called on well-meaning Nigerians to give back to society, especially in view of the current economic realities, stressing that small acts of kindness can go a long way in easing the burden on indigent families.

Representing the District Governor at the event, the Region 10 Chairperson and NLCF member, Lion Kazeem Akofe Lasisi, described humanitarian service as a collective responsibility.

“We give a larger gift to the first baby of the year, but we also distribute items to all the babies in the ward,

“If ten people contribute ten naira each, that small effort will make a meaningful impact,” he emphasized.

Lion Lasisi encouraged reputable members of society to join the Lions Club, noting that voluntary service remains vital to community development.

Similarly, the Region 9 Chairperson, Ilobu Platinum Lions Club, Lion Ibrahim Ismail, said the annual visit to celebrate the first baby of the year has become a cherished tradition of District 404 B2.

“Every good deed has a reward from God,” he said, urging individuals and organisations to continue supporting humanitarian causes.

Appreciating the Lions Club International, a principal nursing officer used the opportunity to show appreciation to the Lions Club International, ” I want to appreciate the Lions Club International for their gifts and consistency to State Hospital, Asubiaro Osogbo. For the past years the Lions Club International have impacted so many lives in this facility especially that of our patients and their families. For that we say a big ‘thank you’.

Abah Matthew, father of the first babies of the years whose his wife, Mercy, gave birth to twins male and female at exactly 12:00am and 12:01am respectively appreciated the international organisation for its humanitarian gesture, praying for the members of the Lions Club international to continue to soar higher in all ramifications.

The outreach at State Hospital, Asubiaro Osogbo,underscored the Lions Club International’s commitment to its motto, “We Serve,” as members welcomed the New Year by extending love and support to newborns and their families.