The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, ushered in the New Year with acts of compassion across Surulere, Lagos, as he celebrated newborns and paid medical bills for vulnerable patients, totalling ₦53 million.
He also urged well-to-do Nigerians to always support those in need around them.
At the Gbaja Maternal and Child Centre, Surulere, Mr Gbajabiamila welcomed babies born on New Year’s Day, congratulating their mothers on safe delivery.
He presented ₦500,000 and gift items to Jumoke Yusuf, mother of the first baby of the year at the facility, and cash gifts to other mothers who delivered shortly after.
An emotional Jumoke Yusuf thanked him for the unexpected visit and support.
“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this; it is a pleasant surprise. I am very weak because the baby was delivered through CS, but these generous gifts will go a long way. I pray that God continues to perfect everything that concerns him,” she said.
The Chief of Staff later visited the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, where he settled medical bills of several patients.
He paid ₦3.5 million for Mr Adedeji Oluwatimilehin, who sustained multiple bullet wounds during an armed robbery attack in Ajah.
“I had lost all hope. I didn’t see this coming. May God bless you, sir,” Oluwatimilehin said tearfully.
Mr Gbajabiamila also cleared medical bills amounting to ₦33 million for other patients at LUTH, visited the General Hospital, Iyun, Surulere, to assist indigent patients, and donated food items to children at the Heart of Gold Hospice.
His office confirmed that ₦53 million was spent in total on the New Year medical outreach.
Reporting by Taoreed Abdullahi