Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, marked his 65th birthday by sponsoring free surgeries for 65 children in Lagos.
The birthday gesture culminated in the successful completion of 65 adenotonsillectomy procedures at Mother Mary Hospital, Isolo, where children suffering from enlarged or chronically infected tonsils and adenoids received medical attention at no cost.
Obi disclosed the initiative on Thursday through a post on his official X account, accompanied by a video showing him with some of the children and their parents or guardians.
Rather than centring his birthday around personal celebrations, the former governor chose a medical intervention aimed at improving the health and daily lives of children.
The procedures were led by Dr Folaseye Adebayo and her medical team. According to Obi, the operations addressed conditions capable of causing breathing difficulties, recurrent infections, and sleep-related problems in children.
He also attended the final follow-up clinic and appreciation programme at the hospital, where parents recounted changes they had witnessed in their children’s health after the operations.
“Yesterday, I attended the final follow-up clinic and appreciation programme at Mother Mary Hospital, Isolo, Lagos, following the successful completion of 65 free surgeries for children to mark my 65th birthday,” Obi said.
He expressed gratitude to God for what he described as the safe and successful completion of all 65 procedures, while commending the medical personnel who handled the cases.
“I am deeply grateful to God Almighty for guiding the medical team throughout the process and for granting all 65 children safe and successful surgeries,” he added.
Obi explained that the significance of the occasion went beyond the number of procedures performed. He said listening to parents describe the improvement in their children’s wellbeing made the experience particularly emotional.
The former governor also acknowledged Dr Adebayo and her team, the hospital management, the children’s parents and every contributor involved in the initiative.
To Obi, the birthday intervention reflects a different understanding of celebration. He described birthdays as opportunities to give back, touch lives, and create meaningful change rather than occasions devoted solely to personal festivities.
“I thank God for the privilege of being part of this initiative and, most importantly, for the gift of 65 healthy and hopeful children,” he said.
The initiative also reinforces Obi’s longstanding public emphasis on human development and social investment, with healthcare placed at the centre of his birthday observance.
He concluded his message with his familiar political slogan, “A New Nigeria is POssible”, while praying for continued blessings for people committed to saving and improving lives.
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