A 15-year-old Nigerian student has drawn widespread commendation after clearing outstanding maternity bills for several indigent mothers at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, offering them relief and a fresh start in the new year.
Eko Hot News reports that the teenager, Onate Oton-Efebo, a student of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, paid the hospital bills of mothers who were unable to leave the facility due to financial constraints after childbirth.
The humanitarian gesture was carried out at the state-owned maternity hospital located on Lagos Island, where many low-income women often struggle to settle delivery and postnatal care costs.
Oton-Efebo explained that his decision was driven by compassion and a desire to support vulnerable mothers, particularly during the festive season, when financial pressures are usually heightened.
He disclosed that the idea had been nurtured for weeks and received full encouragement from his parents, who supported him to translate the plan into action.
One of the beneficiaries, Adeleye Zainab, expressed deep gratitude, saying she had remained at the hospital longer than expected due to unpaid bills before the teenager intervened.
Another beneficiary, Joy Francis, said she gave birth on December 31 but could not be discharged until her maternity bill was fully settled through the intervention.
Hospital officials also revealed that the young donor cleared the bill of a 15-year-old mother, Chigozie Jacob, who was admitted after delivering a premature baby at seven months.
According to staff, the young mother had been abandoned by her boyfriend, while her sister lacked the financial capacity to support her hospital expenses.
Matron Abimbola Akanni of the maternity hospital described the gesture as timely and inspiring, noting that it brought immense relief to both patients and healthcare workers.
She praised the teenager for his empathy and sense of social responsibility at such a young age, urging other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the act.
The initiative has since sparked conversations about youth-led philanthropy and community service, with many lauding the teenager’s actions as a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to making an impact.
The Lagos State health community described the intervention as a positive reflection of compassion-driven citizenship and support for maternal healthcare.
Observers say the act aligns with broader calls for collective responsibility in addressing maternal health challenges across Nigeria.
