After 24 long years of waiting 58-year-old retired teacher and minister with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Gbenga Familusi, received a miracle?triplets that transformed his life in the most unexpected way. In this interview with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI, the Osun State indigene shares the extraordinary journey he and his wife, Temitope, went through for over two decades, the mockery, heartbreaks, disappointments, and recent fears of seeing their newborns suffer due to financial struggles

Congratulations on the birth of your triplets! Could you describe how you felt when you first learned your wife was expecting three babies at once?

It was overwhelming. At first, I couldn?t believe it. I felt both excited and shocked at the same time. The thought of having not just one, but three babies at once was difficult to process. I remember thinking about how much our lives would change. While we were happy, we also knew it would bring significant responsibilities. I started worrying about managing everything, from finances to sleepless nights. But overall, the excitement of welcoming three babies far outweighed my concerns. It felt like an incredible blessing.

Could you share some of the challenges you and your wife faced during the 24-year wait to have children?

Many people mocked us during that period. They made hurtful comments, and some even called us names. It was incredibly tough because the negativity was relentless. We often heard remarks like, ?How will you cope?? or ?You should have thought this through better.? Some people labelled us as ?barren.? It was indeed a challenging phase of our lives.

It was heartbreaking, especially when such comments came from people we knew or respected. There were moments when we felt really low, but we kept pushing through. We prayed, stayed strong, and believed things would eventually improve. Now, these same individuals are rejoicing with us, congratulating us, and thanking God for what He has done.

Did your wife ever struggle emotionally during that time and how did you keep her spirit up?

Yes, women can be very emotional, and my wife was no exception. There were times when she felt distraught due to the negative comments from others. I had to be very patient and encourage her a lot. I?d tell her not to worry, to stay calm, and that everything would eventually work out. I reminded her that we were in this together and would handle whatever challenges arose.

When she became pregnant and we confirmed it was triplets, we experienced mixed feelings. Women often worry about things men might not even think about, such as how we would manage, how the babies would be delivered safely, and whether we were fully prepared for what was to come. My role was to be strong for her and to instil the faith that we could handle whatever came our way.

When did you welcome your triplets?

It?s been over three months now. They were born in July, so they are just over three months old.

What does your wife do for a living?

My wife is also a teacher and teaches at a small private school.

How have you both been coping, especially since you mentioned that you?re retired?

It?s been very challenging. Retirement is not easy, especially without receiving any pension or support from the government. Family and friends have been incredibly supportive, and we?ve been living by God?s grace. Their assistance has been invaluable, but we still find ourselves in a tight spot. The additional expenses that come with having children have added significant pressure to our financial situation.

Every day brings new challenges, from buying diapers and baby clothes to ensuring we have enough food and other essentials. It can be overwhelming at times, and I often worry about how we will manage. Despite being grateful to God for blessing us with these kids, taking care of three children at once is no easy task. We can only manage three diapers for each of them per day, which is quite a challenge. Feeding them is another hurdle, as their needs seem to grow daily.

What are the sexes of your triplets?

We have one boy and two girls.

Now that you?re a father of three, what does fatherhood mean to you?

This is something I have wanted for years, and I can?t express how grateful I am. First and foremost, these children are tremendous blessings to me and my family. Everywhere I go now, people affectionately call me ?Baba Ibeeta,? and every time I hear it, it fills me with pride and joy.

Fatherhood is not an easy task at all. It?s a life-changing responsibility, especially with triplets. The house is always buzzing with activity. If one baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night, the others are usually not far behind, and before you know it, we?re all up attending to them. It?s non-stop care, whether it?s feeding, changing diapers, or simply soothing them back to sleep.

But amid all the sleepless nights and overwhelming responsibilities, I still thank God. The challenges are real, but they also remind us of how blessed we are. Not everyone is given the gift of multiple children at once, and I do not take that for granted.

What kind of father do you aspire to be?

I want to be a responsible father, and that desire runs deep. I come from a reputable family that has always stood for integrity, hard work, and strong values. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices and principles that shaped our family, and I am determined to continue that legacy. It?s not just about being a father in name but embodying the qualities that make a true role model?someone my children can look up to, respect, and learn from.

I want to raise my children with good values, teaching them about the word of God, leading by example as the minister that I am, and instilling in them the importance of honesty, kindness, and humility, no matter where life takes them.

How has your relationship with your wife evolved during the years of waiting and now with the arrival of your triplets?

Our relationship has always been very cordial, built on mutual respect and understanding. Of course, like any couple, we?ve had our share of misunderstandings, but what has always stood out is our ability to work through those challenges. We?ve learned to communicate, listen, and support each other, no matter the situation.

Now, with the arrival of the triplets, our bond has grown even stronger. We understand that this new chapter in our lives demands more unity, patience, and teamwork than ever before. These three blessings have given us an even greater reason to stay united and resilient. It?s no longer just about us as individuals, but about being a strong foundation for our family. We know that together, we can handle whatever challenges come our way as parents, and that gives me a deep sense of peace and confidence.

What role did your faith play during your journey to parenthood?

Our faith played a significant role throughout our journey. As Christians, we leaned deeply on our belief in God?s plan, especially during those challenging years of waiting. There were moments of doubt and frustration, but we continually reminded ourselves that everything happens in God?s perfect timing. We prayed, trusted, and held on to the hope that when the time was right, things would align as they should. Looking back now, we can see how each step, each delay, was part of a greater purpose, and we are grateful that everything has indeed fallen into place, just as we believed it would.

During those difficult years, did anyone ever advise you to take another wife or have children with someone else?

Yes, some people offered that kind of advice. Friends would sometimes suggest that I should marry another woman. However, I knew where my heart was, and I never followed that advice. My family never pressured me in that way, either.

What advice would you give to other couples who are waiting for a child?

My advice is simple but powerful: delay is not denial. Just because things aren?t happening as quickly as you?d like doesn?t mean they never will. Life has its own timing, and when the right moment comes, nothing and no one can stand in the way of your breakthrough. It?s important to remain patient, keep pushing forward, and trust that everything is unfolding as it should. Even when it feels like nothing is happening, behind the scenes, things are aligning for you. So, hold on, stay strong, and keep the faith. What?s meant for you will come, and when it does, it will be worth every bit of the wait.

You mentioned that you?re 58 years old, sir. How old is your wife?

She?s 52.

Now that your triplets are here, what are your hopes and dreams for their future?

I truly believe these children are special, each one of them. There is something uniquely extraordinary about them, and I can already sense that they are destined for greatness. My hope and prayer is that as they grow, they will discover and walk in the purpose that God has designed specifically for their lives.

What kind of help do you need the most right now?

Right now, the main thing we need is financial assistance. The cost of caring for the babies has risen significantly. For example, just one tin of baby formula costs about N10,000, and with multiple babies, we need more than one tin every few days. It?s not just formula; there are also medications and diapers that need to be purchased frequently. With newborns, diapers are changed constantly, and these supplies run out faster than we ever anticipated.

Beyond that, we also have to consider regular hospital checkups and unexpected medical expenses that come with having multiple babies at once. All of these costs add up quickly, and it?s becoming increasingly difficult to manage everything on our own. We would be incredibly grateful for any support, whether big or small, to help us get through this challenging time. Every little bit will go a long way in ensuring that these babies are healthy and well cared for.

I cried when our triplets came ? Wife

How was it possible for you to get pregnant at 52?

After enduring the heartache of three failed IVF attempts, we finally received the news we had longed for after the fourth. However, we never expected to be blessed with triplets. The joy was overwhelming, but it came with a wave of fear and uncertainty.

How did you feel when you discovered that you were carrying triplets?

Initially, I was told I was expecting two babies. Then came a moment of dread; I became extremely ill, and during that hospital visit, the doctor revealed the incredible news ? I was carrying three babies.

My heart sank, and tears streamed down my face. Instead of joy, I felt an overwhelming sadness wash over me. We cannot deny that we are grateful that God changed our story. We were mocked, people called us barren, and I was insulted. I am someone who doesn?t like showing my weaknesses to others; if anyone insults or mocks me, I won?t cry in their presence. I will do it when I am alone. It was a very tough phase of my life. Despite feeling sad about not having the resources to care for these children, if I pass on, I am proud that I will leave knowing I was not barren. I am glad I have children I can call mine, even though the situation is tough.

Why did you cry?

At that moment, I was flooded with thoughts of our circumstances. My husband had lost his job, and the reality of raising three newborns weighed heavily on my heart. I couldn?t help but think about the resources we lacked. How would we manage to care for these precious lives? The worry consumed me. With the current economic challenges, I felt like we were standing on the edge of a precipice. I was terrified about how we would provide for them and where we would even begin.

How have you been coping with the stress of taking care of them?

It has been an immense struggle. I made the difficult decision to stop working so that I could dedicate myself fully to their care, but that decision brought its own set of challenges. The financial strain is constant. There are sleepless nights when all three babies cry simultaneously, demanding attention and nourishment. I often find myself feeling utterly overwhelmed, wishing for even a moment of peace. Raising these children in such harsh circumstances is incredibly daunting. There are days when we barely have enough food to feed them, and it breaks my heart to rely on pap when I want to provide them with a proper meal. They are just over three months old, yet the weight of our struggles feels insurmountable.

It has been an exhausting journey filled with tears, sleepless nights, and moments when despair threatened to take hold. I?ve cried countless times, grappling with the reality of our situation and feeling on the verge of depression. We desperately need help to raise these children, as my husband isn?t working, and I?m unable to contribute financially at the moment because I have to stay with them. (Saturday PUNCH)

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