Zinc plays vital roles in all the systems of the body. It is particularly involved in cellular growth, neurodevelopment and immune function. It is therefore important for child survival. Zinc supplementation in neonates has been shown to improve their growth, development and immunity and thus helps in reducing both morbidity and mortality. This is especially important in preterms who were not privileged to accumulate enough zinc as 60% to 70% of zinc is accreted in the third trimester. Prematurity is the single most important cause of neonatal death and Nigeria ranks third amongst countries with the largest number of preterm births. Compared to their term counterparts, preterm neonates are at increased risk of nutritional compromise, impaired growth, developmental delay and increased susceptibility to infection and death. In order to reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries like ours, cost-effective and evidence-based interventions that can enhance growth, development and immunity, need to be considered. Determining the zinc levels of neonates including preterm neonates in our environment and how it relates to both gestational age and birth weight is therefore imperative. The study was a descriptive cross sectional. It was carried out at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria and aimed at determining the umbilical cord serum zinc levels among neonates and their relationship with the gestational age, birth weight and gender. Two hundred and seventy-five neonates of gestational ages 28 to 42 weeks were enrolled and cord blood was collected immediately after delivery. Gestational ages of the study participants were estimated using the mother’s last menstrual period (LMP) and Ballard. The weight of each neonate was measured using a weighing scale. (SECA infant weighing scale, model 725). Serum zinc levels were determined using the Flame Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS model no. FS 240 AA.USA, Agilent Technology Ltd). Of the 275 neonates, 27 (9.82%) were very preterm, 28 (10.18%) were moderate to late preterm and 220 (80%) were term neonates respectively. The mean serum zinc level of all neonates was 87±16.07µg/dl and this was within the normal limit of serum zinc. Their mean serum zinc level increased with increasing gestational age (F= 90.424, p<0.001), with the very preterm and moderate to late preterm neonates having low mean serum zinc levels of 65.13µg/dl± 6.15 and 69.85 µg/dl ± 9.63 µg/dl respectively. Similarly, mean serum zinc levels of the neonates increased as their weight increased (r=0.701, p<0.001). Females had higher mean cord serum zinc (90.71±16.06 µg/dl) than males (84.57±15.54µg/d, p= 0.001). This study revealed that though the overall mean serum zinc of neonates were normal, preterms (especially those of lower gestational) ages and very low birth weight neonates were zinc deficient. Females had a significantly higher mean serum zinc than males. It is therefore recommended that, routine supplementation with zinc at birth should be considered in these preterm neonates to avoid the untoward effects of zinc deficiency