Ogun Govt Steps in as Mother of Five Welcomes Quadruplets in Abeokuta

​ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Government has moved to provide comprehensive support to Mrs. Mufiat Olateju, a 40-year-old housewife and mother of five who recently gave birth to a set of quadruplets at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.

​The birth, which occurred last Wednesday, took the family and medical personnel by surprise. Mrs. Olateju, whose husband, Oluwaseun Olateju, works as a butcher, revealed that earlier medical scans had only indicated she was expecting a single child, with a subsequent scan suggesting twins. It was not until the surgery at FMC Abeokuta that the medical team discovered and successfully delivered four babies.

​Government Intervention

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, visited the family at the hospital to convey the state’s goodwill. Accompanied by the ministry’s management team, the Commissioner assured the Olatejus of both financial and moral assistance to ease the burden of caring for nine children.

​”The government is committed to the welfare of mothers and children in our state,” Hon. Adeleye stated. “We are here to ensure that Mrs. Olateju and her newborns receive the necessary succour during this critical time.”

​A High-Risk Delivery

The Chief Medical Director of FMC Abeokuta, Dr. Titilola Ibiyemi, and Consultant Gynecologist, Dr. Taofeek Ogunfunmilayo, noted that the patient was “unbooked,” having not registered at the facility for antenatal care. She was referred to the hospital while already in labor at 32 weeks of pregnancy.

​While the mother is reported to be in stable condition, the newborns are currently receiving specialized attention at the hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the Minister of State, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has also directed the hospital to provide comprehensive medical and psychosocial support to the family.

​Appeal for Help

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Before the government’s intervention, the couple had made a public appeal for help. Mr. Olateju admitted the news initially overwhelmed him, even leading to thoughts of absconding before he resolved to stay and seek help for his expanded family.

​The state government has used this opportunity to reiterate the importance of early antenatal registration to ensure the safety of mothers and babies in cases of multiple births.