International News
Australian Woman, 56, Gives Birth to Twins with Younger Nigerian Husband
Angela Peters, a 56-year-old mother of five and grandmother of 12 from Australia, has shared how she gave birth to twin girls with her 17-year-younger Nigerian husband, Bright.
In an interview with The Sun UK on Monday, Peters said she first came across Bright in 2020 through a dating app where she was initially chatting with his older brother, Emeka, who lived in Senegal.
Although nothing developed with Emeka, she became interested after he sent a photo of his family, and she spotted Bright.
“It was like a thunderbolt – I knew this was the man I was meant to be with,” she said.
At the time, Bright was working as a cook in South Africa, while Peters was based in Australia.
After nine months of communication, she travelled to Nigeria in February 2021 to meet him in person. The couple got married just nine days later in a small civil ceremony in Lagos.
“The kids were horrified when I called to tell them, but I knew that once they met Bright, they’d understand,” she said.
Peters stated, “Raising my kids was the joy of my life, but over the years, I realised I wasn’t happy in my marriage.
“We divorced in April 2019, when I was 51, and being single after so long was both liberating and scary.
“I longed to be a wife again, but the last thing on my mind was having more babies.”
While already a mother of five with 12 grandchildren, Peters said she felt the desire to have children with her new husband after seeing how much he longed to be a father.
“When I told Bright that I was going through perimenopause and wouldn’t be able to have more children, he told me not to worry and that one day we’d have twin girls together.
“I laughed, knowing that was impossible,” she said.
Peters became concerned that Bright might never experience fatherhood. After facing legal age restrictions on IVF in Australia, she explored options in Nigeria, where doctors were willing to proceed despite her age.
She said, “So, at 54, I began looking into IVF, and was devastated to discover the cut-off age in Australia is 52. I asked my daughters if they’d be willing to be our surrogate, but they weren’t keen on the idea, and I even considered advising Bright to have a baby with another woman.
“Luckily, fate had other plans. In January 2023, during a visit to Nigeria, a friend of Bright’s suggested having IVF there. I was sceptical, but the clinics seemed great and the doctors weren’t worried about my age.
“They said they could arrange an egg donor and create embryos with Bright’s sperm, and I would be able to carry our baby. It felt like the answer to our prayers, but not everyone saw it that way.”
In December 2023, she discovered she was pregnant with twins, just as her husband had once predicted.
The couple welcomed two girls, Khorus and Knowyn, in August 2024.
Despite online backlash and health concerns raised by her doctor, Peters said the pregnancy was her easiest yet.
Peters documented her pregnancy journey on TikTok, with support from her children, some of whom were initially sceptical of the marriage but later accepted Bright.
“It was my daughters’ idea to film my pregnancy journey and put it on TikTok – we wanted to inspire other women who dreamed of becoming mums against the odds.
“Suddenly, I had people recognising me in public, which was strange,” she said.
Her 28-year-old daughter, Deina, in an interview with The Sun, said, “I had initial fears that Bright was a scammer, then I got the shocking news that they’d got married and wanted me to be their surrogate.
“So, hearing Mum was having IVF in Nigeria instead was a relief!
“I was worried about her being pregnant at 56, but she flew through it and put my mind at rest.
“She’s so incredible with the girls, it’s a wonder to see.
“Mum has proved that age isn’t a barrier to following your dreams.”
Peters said the twins have brought the family closer and encouraged other older women not to give up on motherhood if it’s what they want.
“To those who dream of motherhood later in life, don’t lose hope,” Peters stated.
Jeremy Doku insisted Manchester “will keep on fighting” in the Premier League title race despite their “painful” draw with Everton on Monday.
City drew 3-3 with the Toffees at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Doku scoring a 97th-minute equaliser, having also scored the opening goal.
Doku’s equaliser (96:49) is City’s third-latest goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after John Stones’ strike against Arsenal in September 2024 (97:14) and Gabriel Jesus’ goal against Everton in February 2019 (96:52).
Doku has had a hand in six goals across his last five games for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists), as many as in his previous 22 games combined (one goal, five assists).
The Belgian also created the most chances in the match against Everton (four), completed the most dribbles (5/7) and won the most duels (14/19).
City avoided defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by 2+ goals as late as the 82nd minute for the first time since March 2012 against Sunderland (3-3).
They went on to win the league title in 2011-12, and Doku believes City can still beat Arsenal to the trophy this season.
“First half, we played well and created a lot of chances. We know if we don’t score those chances, it is going to get difficult at the end,” said Doku.
“Obviously, they are at their own stadium, they create chances, and they are dangerous, and they scored two goals, but I think we gave them the game.
“Good that we came back because one point is not bad in games like this.
“We will see. It feels painful now. There is still a lot of games to go. We lost two points, but we know that one point can be important at the end.
“We will keep on fighting. We owe it to ourselves and to our fans.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerians interested in repatriation from South Africa will be responsible for the cost of their return trip to Nigeria.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated this during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
The briefing came shortly after a closed-door meeting between the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dunoma Ahmed, and the South African Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele.
Mr Ebienfa said the process will be self-funded and not state-funded, as it is a voluntary decision that the Nigerian government will only facilitate and coordinate.
In the recent past, such reparations have been sponsored by Nigerian airline owners, particularly Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace.
The Nigerian government, on Sunday, indicated its readiness to repatriate its citizens from South Africa due to xenophobic violence.
The effort primarily targets Nigerians who feel threatened by the xenophobic violence and tension in parts of South Africa, as the protests against black immigrants in the country continue. Two Nigerians were killed last month.
Since the announcement, about 130 Nigerians in South Africa have expressed a willingness to return home voluntarily.
Mr Ebienfa stated that the return of the Nigerians depends on their financial capacity, as they would be expected to fund their trip back home individually.
He said, “Those willing to leave are expected to approach the high commission and, given that their decision is voluntary, have the resources to fund their return to Nigeria.”
The government will not “provide an aircraft from Nigeria to convey them.”
He also noted that the speed of the repatriation process will be determined by the availability of funds.
“Yes, 130 as of this morning have registered, but actualisation would be required to have their flight ticket to move back to Nigeria.”
Mr Ebienfa also explained that Nigerians who have so far expressed interest are motivated either by concerns about threats to their lives or by fear of arrest by South African law enforcement agencies.
“There are two groups of Nigerians who want to come back. One group feels the country is not safe for them and wants to come. They have all their papers intact.
“Then there is also the second group that has travel document violations or resident permit violations. And instead of running away from law enforcement, they are appealing that the government facilitate their movement back to Nigeria,” he explained.
However, he noted that the process is still being worked out and that the government would step in to provide aircraft or other needed assistance if tensions rise and the situation becomes more volatile.
The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.
-
Health & Wellness9 months agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
News9 months agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking
-
Trending News9 months agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
Business1 month agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
Business1 month agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
News3 years ago2023 Elections: Outgoing Rwandan High Commissioner say s Nigeria, ‘ handle their destiny’ in a peaceful way.
-
International News1 month agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
Business2 years agoHeritage Bank Customers’ Path to Securing ₦5m Insured Funds: A Step-By-Step Guide by NDIC”