The Ogun State Government has assumed custody of a two-day-old baby abandoned by its mother in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area.
The newborn was reportedly discovered last week by a woman at Sayedero Market in Ilaro. However, the situation sparked controversy after two videos surfaced online in which the woman claimed the baby had gone missing following the involvement of officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, confirmed that the government had legally taken the baby into protective custody, dismissing the woman’s claims as false and misleading.
“The baby was not missing. The child was taken into custody lawfully, with all necessary documentation completed by the police,” Adeleye stated.
She criticized the woman’s actions, describing them as an attempt to emotionally manipulate the public and misrepresent the government’s role. Adeleye also rejected any suggestion that the woman who found the baby would be allowed to adopt the child.
“We don’t permit individuals who are familiar with a child’s background to adopt them, in order to protect the child’s future,” she said.
Adeleye further explained that all abandoned children taken in by the state are considered wards of the government and symbolically referred to as the children of the serving governor.
“Any child found in Ogun State belongs to the state government. They are all children of the governor. That’s why, when naming them, their surnames reflect the governor in office at the time they were rescued,” she noted.
She cited examples from past administrations, saying some children were named Daniel during Governor Gbenga Daniel’s tenure, Amosun under Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and now bear the surname Abiodun under the current governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
According to Adeleye, this tradition underscores the government’s commitment to caring for every abandoned child as a responsibility of the state.
