Daniel Otera
Angela Peters, a 56-year-old grandmother from Queensland, Australia, has made international headlines after giving birth to twin girls in Nigeria defying both biological expectations and widespread social criticism. Her story, rooted in love, resilience, and medical innovation, has reignited global discussions about age, fertility, and interracial relationships.
The twin girls, named Khorus and Knowyn, were born in August 2024 through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), a journey Angela began at the age of 54 after marrying her 39-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright, in 2021.
Speaking with The Sun UK, Angela recounted how she first met Bright in 2020 via a dating app. “It was like a thunderbolt. I knew this was the man I was meant to be with,” she said.
Although her initial chats had been with Bright’s older brother Emeka, it was a family photo that introduced her to Bright. At the time, Angela was based in Australia and Bright was working as a chef in South Africa. After nine months of virtual communication, Angela flew to Nigeria and married Bright in a modest civil ceremony just nine days after arriving.
Angela’s decision to pursue motherhood in her mid-fifties reflects a broader trend of women having children later in life, often made possible by advances in fertility treatments.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that the proportion of women aged 40 and above giving birth more than doubled over the past 30 years from 2.6% in 1991 to 6.8% in 2021. In its 2019 report Older Mothers in Australia, the AIHW further revealed that birth rates among women aged 45 to 49 quadrupled between 1999 and 2019 from 0.3 to 1.1 births per 1,000 women. Births in the 40–44 age range also more than doubled during the same period.
Although there is no federal law in Australia that prohibits IVF by age, many clinics impose cut-off points between 50 and 52 due to health risks and insurance policies. As a result, some women over 52 explore fertility treatments abroad particularly in countries where the process is less restricted and more affordable.
“I laughed when Bright said we’d have twin girls together. I told him I was past childbearing age, but he never gave up,” Angela recalled.
Nigeria’s fertility industry has seen remarkable growth over the last decade, positioning the country as an emerging destination for affordable IVF treatment. According to the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH), there are now over 70 registered IVF clinics across Nigeria, a significant increase from previous years.
Many of these clinics cater not only to Nigerian clients but also to international patients seeking lower-cost alternatives to treatment in countries like Australia and the UK. A 2024 report by Daily Trust highlighted Nigeria’s growing reputation in reverse medical tourism, particularly in the area of assisted reproduction.
In a 2018 interview with Punch Newspapers, the then-president of AFRH confirmed, “Nigeria has over 70 fertility clinics, and more are emerging every year due to increasing demand and success rates.”
Angela returned to Nigeria in 2023 and was introduced to a fertility clinic in Lagos by one of Bright’s friends. “Despite my doubts at first, I was impressed by the care I received in Nigeria,” she said. “They didn’t question my age or background. They just looked at my health and gave me hope.”
The clinic arranged for a donor egg and used Bright’s sperm to create embryos. Angela successfully underwent IVF treatment at age 54 and discovered in December 2023 that she was pregnant with twins.
According to estimates from Med Fertility, the average cost of a single IVF cycle in Nigeria ranges between ₦1.5 million and ₦2.5 million, depending on the clinic, procedure complexity, and donor use. Another Nigerian provider, Pride IVF, estimates costs at between ₦1.72 million and ₦2.95 million per cycle.
In contrast, IVF in Australia can cost anywhere from AUD 10,000 to AUD 13,000 per cycle equivalent to roughly ₦6.6 million to ₦8.6 million excluding donor and medication costs, based on figures from Finder.com.au.
For Angela, the significant cost difference, coupled with a more flexible approach to age, influenced her decision to seek treatment in Nigeria.
Angela’s decision to have children again sparked mixed reactions within her family. She already had five adult children and 12 grandchildren from her previous marriage, which ended in divorce in 2019.
“Raising my kids was the joy of my life, but I realised I wasn’t happy in my marriage anymore,” she said. “I longed to be a wife again.”
Her 28-year-old daughter, Deina, admitted she was initially concerned. “I was worried about her being pregnant at 56, but she flew through it and put my mind at rest,” she said. Deina, who once feared Bright could be a scammer, eventually came around to support her mother’s new life.
The family documented Angela’s pregnancy on TikTok, which gained traction and sparked global conversations. “It was my daughters’ idea to film my pregnancy journey. We wanted to inspire other women who dreamed of becoming mums against the odds,” Angela explained.
Angela’s experience has reignited medical and ethical discussions around late-age pregnancies. Fertility specialists worldwide continue to warn about the health risks associated with pregnancies in women over 50.
A 2020 meta-analysis published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that women aged 50 and above face a 42-fold higher risk of maternal death, along with significantly higher chances of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, stillbirth, and neonatal complications. The study covered over 31 million pregnancies globally and remains one of the most comprehensive of its kind.
Similarly, a UK population-based cohort study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reported increased risks of emergency caesarean sections, preterm births, and neonatal intensive care among women aged 48 and above.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) also stresses that women over 50 should undergo rigorous risk assessments before attempting pregnancy.
In Nigeria, the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) advises caution but recognises the right of older women to make informed reproductive choices. The body advocates ethical guidelines for fertility clinics, particularly where donor eggs and high-risk pregnancies are involved.
Angela’s delivery, completed without major complications, is a rare but encouraging case. Experts say outcomes like hers highlight the importance of proper medical supervision, patient screening, and continuous monitoring throughout pregnancy.
Now settled in Nigeria with her husband and twin daughters, Angela says her life has come full circle.
“Mum has proved that age isn’t a barrier to following your dreams,” said Deina.
Angela continues to encourage women facing fertility challenges not to give up.
“To those who dream of motherhood later in life, don’t lose hope,” she said.