Kwara State Government received a newborn abandoned by her mother on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Women Affairs. The baby, delivered on April 2, 2026, was brought from Apalara Medical Hospital by DSP Medinat Garuba of the Nigeria Police Force and Dr Giwa Luqman, the hospital's Chief Medical Director. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, confirmed the incident and reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). She stated the state would provide full medical and physical care for the newborn, stressing that every child counts in Kwara State.
Chief Afolashade noted that the Child Rights Law allows for fostering or adoption of abandoned children, but due process must be followed, including a waiting period for the mother to reconsider her decision. Dr Giwa Luqman disclosed that the mother, a student, had initially sought to terminate the pregnancy but was counselled to proceed with the delivery. After giving birth, she abandoned the baby. The government has commenced procedures in line with existing child protection laws.
A student mother abandoning her newborn after being counselled to carry the pregnancy to term raises difficult questions about postnatal support systems in Kwara. Dr Giwa Luqman's intervention prevented an abortion, but the outcome suggests emotional or social pressures may have been left unaddressed. Without structured support for young mothers, even well-intentioned medical counselling may lead to unintended consequences. This case exposes gaps between saving a pregnancy and safeguarding the child's future.
