The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled Nigeria’s First Baby of the Year 2026, born at exactly 12 midnight at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.
This is as the National Population Commission (NPC) and the First Lady have advocated birth registration in Nigeria.
Born on January 1,2026,to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Celestine Adakole, baby Zion Adakole, was delivered via caesarean section to a 26-year-old first-time mother, Mrs. Patience Adakole.
As part of her tradition aimed at spreading love, particularly in support of maternal and child healthcare, Mrs. Tinubu presented a National Birth Certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) to the newborn as the Baby of the Year.
She also presented gift items and cash to the baby, a gesture she extended to other newborns at the hospital.
According to the hospital management, Zion Adakole was the first baby delivered in the facility in 2026.
The First Lady described the birth of Zion as symbolic, marking both the birth of a new year and the promise of new beginnings.
She extended her love to three other babies born on January 1,2026, as well as a set of quadruplets delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Blessing Oragwu after 13 years of waiting.
Mrs. Tinubu emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an environment where every Nigerian child could thrive and achieve their full potential.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the visit, the First Lady held each of the babies to her chest and offered prayers for the newborns, their parents and Nigerians at large.
She encouraged parents to cherish and nurture their children, describing them as blessings and future leaders of the country.
Mrs. Tinubu also called on Nigerians to embrace compassion by sharing what they have with others, stressing that improving the lives of the less privileged was a collective responsibility.
The visit is expected to continue to other hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, including the National Hospital, Abuja.
NAN reports that the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Chairman of NPC, Mr. Aminu Yusuf, and other dignitaries accompanied the First Lady during the visit.
In advocating the need for birth registration in Nigeria,the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Aminu Yusuf highlighted its importance as a foundation for legal identity, access to social services and credible national data.
Yusuf stated this during the presentation of a National Birth Certificate to the first baby born in Nigeria in 2026 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.
The certificate was presented by the Wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, who unveiled Baby Zion Adakole, born at exactly 12:00 a.m. on January 1,2026.
The baby was delivered via caesarean section to a 26-year-old first-time mother, Mrs. Patience Adakole and Mr. Celestine Adakole.
Speaking on the significance of the document, Yusuf said birth registration provides a legal identity for every child from birth.
“The importance of it is that it becomes a legal identity for the child. It is an important document that the child will be proud of by the time he grows.
“He will know that he was registered at birth, and it gives him access to education, health and other essential services,” he said.
The NPC chairman said the commission was committed to expanding awareness and coverage of birth registration across the country.
He explained that beyond the annual New Year baby event at the national level, the commission planned to replicate similar initiatives in all states.
“What I want to assure us is that by next year, similar activities would be replicated in all the states so that people will be more aware of the importance of birth registration.
“First Ladies often visit hospitals in their states, but they do not always go with our officials. We want our commissioners and state directors to be part of these activities to deepen awareness,” Yusuf said.
He added that widespread birth registration was critical to producing accurate and transparent population data for national planning.
“The message is that we want accurate data. Whether it is census or any other national exercise, the outcome will only be credible if our foundational data, like birth registration, is accurate and transparent,” he said.
Yusuf also clarified that while the NPC does not directly manage population growth, it plays a central role in providing data needed by relevant ministries and stakeholders.
The event had in attendance, the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and other dignitaries.NAN.
