Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi marked his 65th birthday by supporting the completion of 65 free paediatric surgeries for children at Mother Mary Hospital in Isolo, Lagos.
The medical intervention was completed as part of a birthday initiative aimed at providing specialist care to children whose families might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of surgery. The procedures were performed by Dr. Folaseye Adebayo and her medical team at the Lagos hospital.
The children treated through the initiative had been experiencing different health complications, including breathing difficulties, recurrent infections and problems affecting their sleep. Their conditions required specialist surgical attention, which can be financially difficult for many low-income families to access.
Among the procedures carried out was adenotonsillectomy, a specialised operation involving the removal of enlarged or chronically infected tonsils and adenoids. The procedure is commonly used where enlarged or persistently infected tissues are contributing to breathing and related complications, but the cost can place it beyond the reach of families with limited financial resources.
Obi disclosed the completion of the 65 surgeries during a final follow-up clinic and appreciation programme held at Mother Mary Hospital. The gathering provided an opportunity for the medical team to review the children’s progress and for parents to speak about changes they had observed following treatment.
According to Obi, all 65 children recorded successful outcomes from the intervention. Parents who attended the programme also shared testimonies about improvements in their children’s health and overall quality of life after receiving the surgical treatment.
The former Anambra governor used the occasion to recognise the medical professionals responsible for carrying out the procedures, as well as the management of Mother Mary Hospital. He also acknowledged the parents and other contributors whose participation helped make the initiative possible.
For Obi, the birthday was therefore marked not primarily through personal celebration but through a healthcare intervention targeted at children in need of specialist treatment.
“For me, birthdays are not merely occasions for celebration. They are opportunities to give back, touch lives, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” Obi said.
He described the successful conclusion of the medical exercise as a privilege and expressed gratitude for the outcome involving the children who received treatment.
Obi said he was thankful to God for what he described as “65 healthy and hopeful children,” linking the birthday milestone directly to the number of children who benefited from the intervention.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of wider concerns about the affordability and accessibility of healthcare in Nigeria. Families requiring specialist medical services can face substantial expenses, while out-of-pocket healthcare payments continue to place financial pressure on households.
Paediatric specialist care can be particularly challenging for families with limited resources when treatment involves procedures that require trained specialists, hospital facilities and post-operative follow-up.
By tying the number of surgeries to his age, Obi turned his 65th birthday into a targeted intervention involving children who required medical attention. The exercise also placed emphasis on the practical impact of the occasion, rather than limiting it to conventional birthday celebrations.
The final follow-up programme at Mother Mary Hospital brought together the children and their parents, the medical team, hospital management and contributors associated with the initiative. The successful outcomes reported during the programme provided the basis for Obi’s expression of appreciation to those involved.
Dr. Folaseye Adebayo and her medical team were specifically commended for undertaking the surgeries, while the hospital management was also recognised for its role in providing the setting for the intervention.
The surgeries focused on children whose symptoms included difficulty breathing, recurring infections and sleep-related complications. For families dealing with such conditions, successful treatment can extend beyond resolving an immediate medical problem to improving a child’s ability to sleep and function normally.
The inclusion of adenotonsillectomy in the programme was particularly significant because the procedure requires specialist medical attention and may be difficult for low-income families to finance without assistance.
Obi’s birthday initiative consequently combined a personal milestone with direct support for children’s healthcare. Rather than simply announcing a donation, the exercise culminated in completed surgeries and follow-up care for the beneficiaries.
The former governor said the experience reinforced his view that important personal occasions could be used to create tangible social impact. His remarks positioned the intervention as part of a broader philosophy of turning moments of personal significance into opportunities to assist others.
The completion of the surgeries also gave parents an opportunity to publicly express their appreciation and discuss the improvements they had seen in their children. Their testimonies formed part of the final follow-up and appreciation programme at the hospital.
With all 65 surgeries reported as successful, the intervention concluded with the focus shifting to the children’s recovery and continued wellbeing. The medical team remained involved through the follow-up process, allowing the beneficiaries’ progress to be assessed after their procedures.
The initiative also highlighted the continuing importance of partnerships between medical professionals, hospitals, families and individuals or organisations willing to support healthcare interventions. In this case, the collaboration enabled 65 children to receive surgical treatment without their families bearing the stated cost of the procedures.
Obi’s decision to mark his 65th birthday through the initiative gave the event a distinct social dimension. The number of beneficiaries corresponded with his age, creating a direct link between the personal milestone and the healthcare support provided.
As Nigeria continues to face concerns surrounding healthcare affordability, interventions that cover specialist treatment can offer significant relief to families who might otherwise postpone or forgo necessary medical care because of financial constraints.
For the children involved, the programme was ultimately measured not by the birthday occasion itself but by the medical treatment they received and the reported improvements that followed.
Obi thanked everyone who contributed to the initiative and reiterated his belief that birthdays should provide an opportunity to give back to society.
He concluded the celebration with a message reflecting his political and personal outlook: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
The 65 free paediatric surgeries therefore became the central feature of Obi’s 65th birthday, combining a personal celebration with a practical healthcare intervention for children and their families in Lagos.
Peter Obi Marks 65th Birthday With 65 Free Paediatric Surgeries in Lagos
