My wife wanted a son,’ Alibaba shares the story of how he became a father to triplets.”

Veteran Nigerian comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has opened up about how his wife, Mary, persuaded him to have triplets. The couple welcomed their three sons in April 2024.

During an exclusive interview on the Leadership podcast, Alibaba shared how Mary’s persistence and enthusiasm eventually convinced him. He revealed that after their two daughters left for studies abroad, Mary wanted to adopt children to fill the void at home.

“Mary had always wanted a son. We already had two daughters, and we discussed it,” Alibaba recalled. “I told her I didn’t want to go back to doing school runs, attending PTA meetings, and keeping up with younger generations. But when the children go abroad for studies, the house does feel empty, and the conversation came up again.”

Initially, Mary proposed adopting three children, but the couple decided to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF) instead. They planned to have two children, but to their surprise, one of the embryos split, resulting in three.

Unbeknownst to Alibaba, both his wife and their doctor were aware of the triplets early on but chose not to tell him right away. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Sometimes when God wants to bless you, you don’t know how He will do it—He just does.”

While Alibaba admitted that the financial strain of raising multiple children concerned him, Mary’s reassurance and unwavering support helped him overcome those worries.