From Ife To Abia: Hope Alive Initiative Touches Lives of Over 65 New Born Babies in Abia
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the Hope Alive Initiative (HAI), in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Executive Governor of Abia State and the Abia State Ministry of Health, brought smiles to the faces of nursing mothers and their newborn babies across selected health facilities in Abia State.
The outreach, which happens to be the ninth in its series, was simultaneously held in Lagos State, Osun State and Abia State, reinforcing the initiative’s mission to spread love and celebrate newborns described as special gifts from God.
Founded by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Hope Alive Initiative was conceived with a unique mandate, to confer a sense of royalty on newborn babies while sensitizing mothers on proper childcare and nurturing practices. The initiative emphasizes that every child is born with dignity and purpose and should be treated as a treasure.
Leading the royal delegation to Abia was the wife of the Ooni of Ife and Deputy Convener of the Initiative, Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi. Speaking at the first government health facility visited, she expressed deep fulfillment at the opportunity to celebrate what she described as “divine gifts”.
According to her, the Ooni’s passion for humanity transcends tribe, ethnicity, and religion, and this inclusive love has sustained the Hope Alive Initiative over the years.
“A king who does not focus only on his own people, but shares love across boundaries, is a true leader”, she said.
Addressing the mothers, Olori Ogunwusi urged them to raise their children with care, discipline, and love. Quoting the biblical injunction to “train up a child in the way he should go,” she reminded them that children are royal gifts from God and should be treated accordingly.
Olori Ogunwusi encouraged mothers to handle their children with care and respect, giving deliberate attention to their growth and development in recognition of their unique nature.
She also commended the Abia State Government under Alex Otti for what she described as purposeful leadership and visible developmental strides. She acknowledged the efforts of the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uma Kalu and the Chief Medical Director of Aba General Hospital, Dr. Nwamaka Kamalu, for strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, described the visit as a demonstration that true leadership is measured by compassion for the vulnerable.
“We are happy you chose Abia for this august visit. You came to share love with over 64 newborns and their mothers. Indeed, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation”, he said.
The Health Commissioner equally noted that Abia continues to attract impactful programs due to the Governor’s reforms and repositioning of the state.
Highlighting improvements in healthcare indices, he stated that maternal mortality rates have significantly declined, while infant mortality has dropped to the barest minimum, with data publicly available for verification.
Prof. Uche praised the Ooni for consenting to the outreach in Abia, adding that great leaders are known by how they identify with the vulnerable. He also observed similarities between Olori Ogunwusi’s passion for children and that of the wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti.
Earlier, the wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, represented by the Special Adviser on Vulnerable Groups, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas, thanked the royal entourage for bringing joy to families in Abia. She prayed that the newborns would grow to become shining lights in their generation.
In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uma Kalu, reaffirmed that distance is not a barrier to compassion and commended the royal team for extending love beyond regional boundaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Uzoma Ejike, expressed gratitude to the wife of the Ooni and the First Lady of Abia State for celebrating the season of love with nursing mothers.
The outreach team visited multiple health facilities, including the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, where the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ijeoma Nduka, was represented by the Chief Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Prince Ezenwa Ndubueze Onyemachi.
Nursing mothers and their newborns received baby packs and gift items as part of the celebration.
The delegation also stopped at Abia Specialist Hospital, the Umuahia North Local Government Area Health Authority, and the Ahiaeke Primary Health Care Centre, where the Governor’s wife joined the team in person to distribute gift items.
The royal entourage included the Elerefe of Ife, Oba Fayemi Johnson, who accompanied Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi to Abia, which further underscores the significance of the visit.
Beyond the ceremonial pageantry, the Valentine Outreach underscored a deeper message that love, care, and dignity must begin at birth. By identifying with mothers and newborns, the Hope Alive Initiative continues to plant seeds of compassion, responsibility, and societal progress.
As Valentine’s Day celebrates love globally, in Abia, that love was tangible wrapped in baby packs, spoken in prayers, and shared in smiles reminding all that every child is indeed born royal.
