Legendary Nigerian stand-up comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, has revealed how he unexpectedly became a father of triplets at the age of 59.
Speaking on the Leadership Podcast, Ali Baba shared that he and his wife, Mary, initially planned to have just one more child, particularly a son, but their journey led to the birth of three boys.
The comedian explained that his wife had always desired another son, especially after their children traveled abroad for school.
Although the couple had considered adopting more children, they eventually decided to try for another child biologically.
To increase their chances, they opted for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), intending to fertilize two eggs in hopes of having at least one successful pregnancy.
During the podcast, Ali Baba recounted the conversation that led to their decision. “Madam had always wanted to have a son. She had two daughters, and we talked about it,” he said, adding that he initially resisted the idea, not wanting to resume school runs or attend Parent-Teacher Association meetings at his age.
However, his wife convinced him that they should try for another child. She also reminded him of their commitment to helping others through their charity, the Purple Girl Foundation, which sponsors over 120 children in school. Ali Baba said his wife made a strong case by questioning why they could continue supporting others but hesitate to grow their own family.
The couple eventually decided to fertilize two eggs. To their surprise, one of the eggs split, leading to a pregnancy with triplets. Ali Baba said that his wife and their doctor kept the news of the triplets from him at first, but eventually shared the surprise.
“When God wants to bless you, you don’t know how he will do it,” Ali Baba said. “We were looking for two, but now we have three—three boys.”
