The Akwa Ibom State First Lady Designate, Lady Helen Eno Obareki has donated gift items and cash to a baby girl born on Christmas Day.
The baby born to Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Ukoh from Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, weighed 3.1kg at the time of birth, a minute past midnight at Immanuel Hospital, Eket Local Government Area and was named Elise by her parents.
She is the first of four babies who were born hours apart at the maternity ward of the health facility.
Lady Obareki also extended love to three other babies who were born on Christmas day as well as eight others who were born within the week.
Speaking shortly after sharing in the joy of the mothers of the newborn babies, Lady Obareki who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno expressed delight over the arrival of the babe on Christmas Day.
“It is a merry event. Obviously it’s Christmas day and it’s an absolute pleasure coming with female stakeholders to welcome this year’s Christmas baby. For me I’m very excited because it’s a baby girl.
“And of course, we saw other babies that were born today and others that were born during the week. It was just good to share the merriment of the season and we pray that God who has given them to their individual families will keep them and make them a source of blessing and joy to their homes,” she noted.
The parents of the baby, Mr and Mrs. Emmanuel Ukoh expressed gratitude first to God for the safe arrival of their bundle of joy and to the First Lady Designate for the show of love and kindness towards their new born baby, praying for God’s mercy and protection of the first family.
Speaking on behalf of the management and staff, the Chief Medical Director of Immanuel Hospital, Eket, Dr. Idongesit Itaketo, thanked the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for his people centric approach to governance and the First Lady Designate, Lady Helen Eno Obareki for coming to celebrate Christmas with the nursing mothers especially the Christmas baby.
At the Hospital, the First Lady Designate was received on arrival by the wife of the Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mrs. Maryann Akan Tommey, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, the wife of the Paramount Ruler of Eket Obonganwan Mandu Abia, together with other female stakeholders of Eket extraction.