The Daughter He Rejected: How Baba Ruka Lost His Family and Met His Regret

In a quiet neighborhood in Ibadan, there lived a man known as Baba Ruka. He was stubborn, proud, and deeply rooted in old beliefs. Baba Ruka had one desire that ruled his heart above all else—he wanted a son. But life had other plans.

His wife, a gentle and hardworking woman, gave birth to children one after another, and all of them were girls. Instead of joy, Baba Ruka felt disappointment. Each new baby girl only hardened his heart. He openly declared that girls had no future, that they would only grow up to marry and belong to another family.

His mother tried to reason with him.

She begged him to understand that children are children, gifts from God regardless of gender. She reminded him that many great people in the world were women. But Baba Ruka refused to listen. To him, only a male child could carry his name and secure his legacy.

Blinded by pride, Baba Ruka divorced his wife, abandoning her with the children. He walked away without regret, leaving her to face life as a single mother.

Life became hard.

Ruka’s mother suffered deeply. She struggled to feed her children, worked tirelessly, and endured shame, loneliness, and poverty. Many nights, she cried silently, praying to God not to let her efforts be wasted. She poured all her strength, love, and hope into her daughters—especially Ruka, the child Baba Ruka despised the most.

Despite the hardship, Ruka grew up determined. She watched her mother suffer and promised herself that one day, things would change. She studied with focus, ignored mockery, and held on to her mother’s prayers.

And then, God answered.

Ruka graduated with excellent results and secured a high-paying job. From that moment, her mother’s tears turned into joy. Ruka took care of her, moved her out of suffering, and gave her the comfort she had never known. The same daughter Baba Ruka said had no future became the pillar of the family.

Years later, when Baba Ruka heard of Ruka’s success, he returned.

He showed up with pride in his voice and entitlement in his steps, claiming,

“I am her father.”

But the house he once abandoned was no longer his. The woman he divorced stood strong, and the daughter he rejected stood taller. Baba Ruka was forced to face the truth—he had lost the best part of his life because of ignorance and pride.

Ruka respected him as an elder, but her loyalty belonged to the woman who raised her alone. Her success became a living lesson in Ibadan and beyond:

👉 A child’s future is not determined by gender, but by love, sacrifice, and belief.

👉 And sometimes, the children people reject become the ones God uses to teach them humility.

Baba Ruka wanted a son.

But it was a daughter who became his greatest testimony—and his deepest regret.