Though he is from a very poor family and had nobody to cater for his education, he struggled to get good education. He believed that with sound education, he would be able to secure a good job and raise a small family so that he would also be able to cater for his siblings. But all these hopes fell like a pack of cards.
The fate that has be fallen him is contrary to his expectations. He didn’t get a job. Rather, he got a really big family and the challenge he is facing now is how to fend for them.
When he got married in 2009, he and his wife had to wait for three years for their first child. When it then happened in 2012, they were twins and it was a big surprise. As he and his wife, who is also a jobless NCE holder, were struggling to make ends meet and cater for the two children, they got another big surprise with a set of quadruplets. Four babies at a time!
Mr. Oluwasanmi, 35, and his wife, 30, narrated their experiences to Saturday Sun at their sleepy Ikeji-Arakeji residence in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. They spoke to CLEMENT ADEYI
When did you get married? Was it before or after your graduation?
I met my wife in the church I attended in her hometown where I went, I thinking I could get a job after I graduated from the university in 2006. When I couldn’t get a job, I started doing menial jobs and got married in 2009; that is, after three years of graduation.
You had other children before the quadruplets.
We had twins as our first issues on 6th January, 2012 before the quadruplets came on 24th August 2014.
The twins are a boy and a girl. The quadruplets are a boy and three girls. We now have six children.
So, how have you been coping with such a large family, since you and your wife have no jobs long after
your graduation?
I engaged in farming from which I earn a little income, with which I sustain the family.
How does your wife support then?
My wife is an NCE holder but also jobless. She is only assisting me in the farm work. She is the one who markets our farm produce.
The birth of the quadruplets was very dramatic; you want to share it?
When the pregnancy was three months old, my wife went for scanning and the result indicated that she was carrying triplets. The scan also showed that she would be delivered of the babies in October. Few months later, she went for scanning again when we started noticing some complications in her health, but the result still showed that the babies were in good condition. On this blessed day, August 23, my twin
sisters were going to Lagos, but decided to pass the night in my place before continuing their journey the following day. I had to vacate the bedroom for them and slept on the floor in the parlour. They and my wifewent to bed very late; they were discussing till midnight.
When it was about few minutes to 3:00 am, one of my sisters came and woke me up and told me that mywife’s condition was not stable. So, I quickly joined them in the bedroom to find out what was wrong with her. When I asked, my wife said she was having backache. We were all confused because we didn’t know what to do or where to go since it was late in the night. As a matter of fact, immediately we realised that she was carrying triplets, we decided to register for antenal care at Mother and Child Hospital, a government health centre in Akure, Ondo State, which is about 23 kilometres from where we are living in
Osun State. But it was difficult for us to go there that night.While in the dilemma, my wife suggested that we should call one midwife who she used to go for prayer at
CAC Memorial Camp at Ikeji-Arakeji where we live. She wanted to seek her counsel. In fact, it didn’t occur to us that her time for giving birth was due based on the result of the scanning. I had suggested that we should wait till morning in order to go to the hospital. But alas, my wife could not endure the pains she was going through. When she then called the midwife, she said could not come because it was late. The womanadvised us to wait till the following morning. As we were trying to persuade my wife to endure till then, one
of the babies just came out suddenly without labour. We were surprised. I exclaimed: “What is this? Everybody was just running up and down until my wife suggested that we should call one of her uncles popularly known as Jingo to bring his car and take her to the midwife’s clinic. Incidentally, my wife even had an appointment with the doctor at Mother and Child Hospital, the hospital where she registered, the next day being August 25.
When Jingo brought the car, we rushed her and the baby to the midwife’s clinic. That was around 3:25 am.It was at the clinic that she was delivered of all the babies successfully without any difficulties whatsoever.
What really surprised us was that, when the third baby was born and we thought it was over, she started having another sign and before we could say Jack Robinson, she gave birth to another baby contrary to the scan’s report. In fact, she didn’t experience labour, except that she complained of backache. According to the midwife, the intervals between the babies were not more than five minutes after which each cord was
cut as they all shared the same placenta.
As soon as you knew it was quadruplets, what ran through your mind, especially concerning their maintenance? Some men would think of running away. Did that cross your mind?
I was very happy. But I was a bit disturbed because of our poor financial condition. But I trusted in God for
help because He is the one who gave the blessing and I believe He will surely help me to take good care of the children. With this confidence, I never thought of running away. Though some men in my shoes have done that in the past, I can never do that. Even if I run away, I would come back one day and that would be very shameful.
What were their weights at birth?
Their weights were: 1.7, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.5 kg, respectively. Two of them are identical, that is, the 2nd and 3rd.
You must have given them wonderful names.
The first child, who is the only boy, is called Nathaniel Boluwatife Oluwadare; the second is called Elizabeth Oluwafunmilola Oluwadare; the third is Helen Oluwagbemisola Oluwadare, while the fourth is called EuniceOluwakemisola Oluwadare.
Boluwatife means as God has purposed, Oluwafunmilola means God has given me blessing/wealth,Oluwagbemisola means God has placed me in a wealthy condition, while Oluwakemisola means God hasendowed me with blessing/wealth.
decided to give the first name, Boluwatife because none of our plans came through. For instance, we planned to have the babies in the government hospital to lessen our expenses, but we never knew that God’s plan is different. God took all the glory. No wonder the Bible says, “My glory I will not share with anyone.” In summary, the other names mean that they are all blessings from God.
Did you ever pray for such a bounteous blessing? Did you thank God or blame Him when the children were born?
I always pray for double portion of every good thing of life, but never prayed for twins or quadruplets. In any case, when the children came, I gave thanks to God for the wonder He did in my family. When I got married, there was no child for three years. We waited patiently and when He was ready to do what no man can do, He blessed us with twins. After that, He blessed us with quadruplets. In fact, the blessing is unique and it is marvellous in our eyes. Everybody that heard the news called us to congratulate and pray for us.
They c
We did not prepare at all because we were taken unawares. She gave birth in August before October that the scan indicated. So, it was the midwife that supplied all the necessary materials, which were later paid for. I had to also rally round the streets for money to buy many other things. But I later refunded the money
accordingly.
What was the bill like; was it much?
It was not as expensive as we expected. Though it wasn’t easy, we were able to pay by the help of concerned individuals and friends after some days.
And how have you been coping with their maintenance? Are they breastfeeding they are on baby-formula?
Frankly, it has not been easy, but with the help of God and the public-spirited people around us who have been helping, we have been coping. The children depend on both baby food and breastfeeding.
How’s your house like? Are you comfortable in it?
We live in a boys’-quarter with a room-and-parlour; not a standard room. The room was not convenient for us when we were four with the twins, let alone now that we are eight. I wish to get a better accommodation, but I don’t have the money.
What is in your mind right now?
All I’m thinking about now is how to get a good job so that I can take proper care of my family.If you were to be offered employment now, where would you like to work?
I can work anywhere in the world, in as much as the job is good and I can take care of these children thatnGod has given to me.
And if job still does not come, what then?
Currently, I engage in farming and I am trying to increase my production capacity through expansion. But to be frank, farming is not easy, especially if there is no money to hire labourers to support.
Did it ever occur to you or your wife that one day you’d come to looking upon people for help like this?
No, because God’s blessing cannot turn us to beggars. I only see it as a challenge.
Instead of begging, I struggle more than before to be able to face the challenge.
How would you want people to help?
Though I need help from kind-hearted individuals, organisations, churches, etc, I believe that no amount of money they give us can sustain us because money can only last for a while. So, I prefer a job, which can sustain me, and on which I would be able to plan for my family.
In what ways has your church assisted you so far?
Our church is very small. So, they cannot assist us much financially. But they help us in prayers. You attended the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. What was your experience?
I faced a lot of challenges because I am from a poor family. So, I had to struggle for money to sustain myself, as my parents could only afford to pay tuition fees. In fact, I didn’t believe I could go to university after my diploma from Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa, Niger State. It was by God’s grace and sheer determination.
What degree did you obtain and in what course?
I obtained BSc in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. It was a five-year programme. I graduated in 2006.
Where have you applied for job and why were you not employed?
I have applied for job in both public and private sectors and I was not able to get employment. What I’ve discovered is that people get jobs either by means of connection, politics and money nowadays.
What is your message to Nigerians since you are so concerned about the future of the children?
I believe that God has a purpose for bringing these children, knowing full well that I don’t have a job to take
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