The joy that follows birth of a new born baby in families is limitless as children are gifts from the Almighty God. The Psalmist summarizes this in Psalm 127:3-5: “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate”.
However, in some scenarios, rather than bringing happiness, the birth of children places huge burden on families that have them due to unfavourable economic situations, especially when it comes in multiples as in the case of Mr. Chijioke Gabriel Kurue and his wife, Mrs. Maryann Kurue who in the quest to close the chapter on child bearing (having agreed to have only 3 children) with the third pregnancy, received more than they bargained for when madam was delivered of a set of triplets instead of the one last child they expected.
Chijioke, an unemployed Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate in Business Administration has been engaged in menial jobs to cater for his family of two children and a wife before the arrival of the set of triplets.
The mother of the triplet, an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate holder was engaged in petty trading to complement her husband’s meagre earnings, lost it to the challenges posed by the pregnancy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not only is this family grappling with the challenges of feeding and caring for their newborn triplet in addition to the two previous ones, the accumulated interests on the loan Mr. Chijioke secured to offset the hospital bill have become a huge concern as he is unable to pay back.
Mr. Chijioke revealed that he had taken to Okada transportation business to put food on the table for his family, lamenting that after balancing the owner of the motorcycle, he had very little left. He also explained that the risks involved in Okada riding have become enormous as it was no longer limited to accidents but making the riders prey to criminals.
Mrs. Maryann Kurue has cried out to Delta State government to assist her husband and if possible herself with a job to enable them take care of the children. She said much as they desired assistance of whatever kind to lessen their burden, a sustainable source of livelihood would be most appreciated.
Mrs. Kurue is calling on the Delta state First lady, Dame Edith Okowa to come to her aid. “Mummy, you had brought succour to families and women; delivering them from huge financial burdens and helping them to offset hospital bills. Please, kindly assist my poor family. You have been a blessing to humanity and I know your generation are eternally blessed”, she pleaded.
She also called on the member representing Aniocha North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, member representing Aniocha Oshimili Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Senator representing Delta North, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi faith based organisations, philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aids.
Mr. and Mrs Chijioke, who are from Aniocha North but live in Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area of Delta state, could be reached on the following numbers 07038627288 and 07037210484
