Woman who delivered baby at Ojude-Oba gets financial reward

Abibat Ayanlola, 32, who was delivered of a baby girl during Ojude-Oba festival on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has received a cash gift of N100,000 from Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

A visibly elated Ayanlola, yesterday received the donation from the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, who visited her at the State General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode.

She thanked the governor for the gesture and all those who assisted her and the baby during the episode, which she claimed caught her unawares.

In a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after receiving the gift, Ayanlola narrated how medics came to her aid when they heard her distress call.

Ojude-Oba is an annual festival celebrated in Ijebu-Ode, the third day after Eid-el-Kabir. Ayanlola said though she hails from the Awori clan in Ogun, she regularly attends the annual celebration of the Ojude-Oba with keen interest. She said she never expected she would suddenly go into labour having been told by her caregivers that the expected delivery date was September 12.

According to her, “what more can I say. God spared my life and my baby’s, now the governor came to my aid with a cash gift of N100,000. I am a caterer by trade, while my husband, Lukman is a transporter, but personally, I travel down every year from where I reside to partake in the Ojude-Oba, which thrills me.

“I went to urinate having been pressed while partaking in the event. As I came back, I started feeling uneasy and decided to relax a bit on the stairs of the pavilion. Before I realised what was happening, I couldn’t stand on my feet again and then went into labour before eventually birthing at the spot.

“It was the quick intervention of the emergency medical team that saved my life and that of my baby. I normally attend my antenatal clinic, which is programmed for Thursdays and was told my date for expected delivery was September 12.”

Ayanlola says the baby is her fourth child having had three children, all males.

In his remarks, Ipaye advised pregnant women to take necessary steps in ensuring that they remain healthy by conforming to their doctors’ advice, particularly after 35 weeks of the pregnancy.

The commissioner urged them to minimise travelling, saying that it posed a great risk to their safety and the development of the baby. He said: “She took a great risk, but was lucky that the emergency team prepared well for such eventuality.