Popular Nigerian comedian MC Mbakara and his wife, Lolo Mbakara, have opened up for the first time about their daughter’s nine-year struggle with severe cerebral palsy, a condition that began at birth due to lack of oxygen.
In a heartfelt video shared on MC Mbakara TV on Saturday, the couple recounted the traumatic events surrounding the birth of their daughter, Eke Mama, born on October 19, 2016.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder caused by damage to a developing brain that affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination. It often begins in infancy or early childhood and can result from complications during or shortly after birth, including low oxygen supply.
Lolo explained how what began as a normal delivery turned into a nightmare when their baby stopped breathing moments after birth.
I was ready to push, but the baby got stuck,” she said. “When she finally came out, she wasn’t crying. She wasn’t breathing. They shouted, ‘Bring oxygen!’ — but there was no oxygen in the hospital.
In a desperate attempt to save the baby, hospital staff tried using an empty oxygen tank filled with water — pouring it over the newborn in panic. With no immediate help, the family rushed her to another hospital, a journey that took over 30 minutes.
By the time we got there, so much time had passed. They placed her on oxygen for almost two weeks, Lolo said.
Doctors later confirmed the delay had caused severe brain damage, leading to cerebral palsy. The couple said they were even advised to let her go.
A doctor friend told us, ‘If you want peace of mind, take her off the oxygen and let her rest,’ Lolo recalled. “But we couldn’t do that. We chose to fight for her.”
Now nine years old, Eke Mama has spent most of her life in a vegetative state.
She has been sleeping for nine years,” Lolo said, visibly emotional. “She only wakes for brief moments. Otherwise, she sleeps.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the couple said their faith, hope, and family support have kept them strong. However, they also had to deal with cruel online comments.
People accused us of hiding her, like we were ashamed, MC Mbakara said. “But we didn’t want pity. We didn’t want people to mock her.”
Turning their pain into purpose, the couple started the Aya Kanu Aya Foundation to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and support other families facing similar battles.
In our society, people still think children like our daughter are bewitched or cursed, Lolo said. “That mindset needs to change. It’s not witchcraft — it’s brain injury.”
Through their foundation, the Mbakaras aim to educate the public and offer emotional and financial support to affected families.
We understand the emotional and financial strain it puts on a family, MC Mbakara said. “We want other parents to know: you’re not alone.”
They also expressed deep appreciation for MC Mbakara’s mother, who plays a key role in caring for Eke Mama.
“She’s been our rock,” he said. “Without her, we would be completely drained. We thank God every day for her — and for the gift of our daughter’s life.”
The Mbakaras’ story is a powerful reminder of the quiet struggles many Nigerian families face while caring for children with special needs — and a call to society to respond with compassion, not judgment.