Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Valentine’s Day 2026 will be unforgettable for babies born on February 14 in select health facilities across Abia State, following a heartwarming humanitarian outreach by Her Imperial Majesty, Ambassador Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
In a symbolic gesture widely described as a “handshake across the Niger,” the royal mother made an unscheduled visit to health facilities, distributing Valentine gifts to newborns and their mothers.
The outreach underscored the power of compassion as a bridge across ethnic and regional lines in Nigeria’s richly diverse society.
The initiative, which marked the 9th Annual Valentine Newborn Outreach of the Hope Alive Initiative, was carried out in partnership with the Office of the Abia First Lady and the State Ministry of Health.
It came barely six months after a similar inter-ethnic goodwill gesture by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also from the South West, whose foundation distributed free hearing aids to hearing-impaired patients in Abia, with both efforts standing out as practical demonstrations of national unity.
Accompanied by the Abia First Lady, Priscilla Otti, and top government officials, Olori Ogunwusi spent the day visiting selected hospitals, sharing gifts and blessings with Valentine newborns and their mothers.
Speaking during the exercise, the Ooni’s wife reaffirmed her foundation’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian service, stressing that life finds its truest meaning when it adds value and brings succour to the vulnerable.
She commended the administration of Governor Alex Otti for its people-oriented policies and strides in improving the wellbeing of Abia residents, urging the government to sustain its development momentum.
The royal mother also lauded the Abia First Lady for her steadfast support for her husband and pledged continued collaboration in advancing humanitarian causes and promoting the common good.
In her remarks, Mrs Otti expressed deep appreciation to Olori Ogunwusi for the visit, describing it as a powerful symbol of inter-state and inter-ethnic solidarity.
She noted that the outreach aligns with the Otti-led administration’s prioritisation of healthcare delivery and child welfare, adding that the royal Valentine gifts and blessings were both symbolic and impactful.
Speaking also, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described the initiative as exceptional and urged the Ooni’s wife to sustain her humanitarian engagements.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to health sector reforms, citing the recent retrofitting and equipping of 200 primary healthcare centres across Abia as evidence of that resolve.
The Commissioner noted that the efforts of the government towards improving the health sector have resulted in a drastic reduction in infant and maternal mortality across the state.
He promised that the health sector would witness more reforms in the years ahead.
Beneficiaries, including Mrs Ngozi Onyejiuwa, Mrs Uzoma Ejike, and Mrs Prisca Osuagwu, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the gesture, offering prayers for God’s blessings upon the Ooni’s wife and her household.
Health facilities visited during the outreach included Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba; Aba General Hospital; Abia State Specialist Hospital, Umuahia; and Amaeke Health Centre, among others.
Top government officials present included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Ifenyiwa Umah-Kalu; the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Kalu Ulu Kalu; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ifeoma Thomas, among others.
