A Story of Gratitude and Resilience
A Nigerian woman named Joy Asiwaju has captured the hearts of many after a video of her celebrating her family’s unfinished house went viral on social media. The video, shared last Saturday, showcased her joy and gratitude for what she considered a major milestone in her life.
Joy, who uses the TikTok and Instagram username “irresistiblejoy lifestyle,” describes herself as a baker, wife, and mother of three. In the video, she expressed her excitement about becoming a new homeowner, even though the building was not yet complete.
“I’m the latest landlady in town. Even though it’s uncompleted,” she said, showing off her home. She gave viewers a tour of the house, starting with her bedroom, where basic fittings were still missing.
“So this is our room. This is our room. So this is our bed. We never do frame, nothing, nothing. So this is it. This is it. This is our bedroom. We never even get WC. Can you see that? No WC yet, but I’m believing in God,” she added.
Despite the lack of facilities, she maintained an optimistic tone, explaining that they were making do with what was available. “Can you see? No WC yet, but we do shower here. Can you see that? We do shower here,” she said.
She then moved on to show her children’s rooms, expressing joy that they now had separate spaces. “So let me show you my children room. Ah God, so my children two can have their room. So I think this is Clara’s room. Okay, this is Clara’s room. This is Clara’s room. Look at that. Madam two don get room,” she said.
She noted that, like the master bedroom, the children’s rooms were also incomplete. “She too, she did not have WC yet. We are trusting in God. We are hoping for if you want a sister, so I beg,” she added.
Continuing the tour, she showed another room designated for her other children, again highlighting the absence of basic facilities. “So this is Joseph and Joshua’s room. So this is their room. This is Joseph and Joshua’s room. So this is his shower, but there’s no WC also yet. We are trusting in God,” she said.
Summarizing the structure, she reiterated that the building was a three-bedroom apartment and expressed faith that it would be completed. “So let’s just say in this house, we have three rooms. Three rooms, yes, and everything has WC and bathroom. So the glory of God,” she said.
She also showed the living area and kitchen, describing them as spacious. “So this is our parlour. The parlour is so big. Ah God, my husband. Look at dining table. Even dining table area is so big. Kill and dine. So here’s my kitchen. Big masha. The kitchen too is also big,” she said.
Wrapping up the video, she acknowledged that the family would be managing the uncompleted structure for the time being. “So this is the storeroom. Maybe I will do a proper video for you guys. If you want to see more video of our place, just let me know. So this is where we’ll be managing for now. This is where we’ll be managing for now. I’m trusting in God, everything. This is it, you guys,” she concluded.
The video quickly gained traction online, drawing mixed reactions on TikTok, X, and Instagram. While many praised her gratitude and resilience, others raised concerns about the safety risks associated with living in an uncompleted building.
Later, Joy also shared a video showing the poor condition of her former apartment, where the ceiling was leaking and her children were often drenched by rain. She noted that the uncompleted building, even one she said could house reptiles, was still better than the Lagos home.
Amid the growing attention, several public figures stepped in to offer financial assistance toward completing the house. Nollywood actor Williams Uchemba publicly pledged ₦1m and called on others to support the family. He later confirmed that he had located Joy through a video call on WhatsApp and fulfilled his promise.
Actress Tonto Dikeh also announced a ₦1m donation, stating that she felt spiritually led to assist after seeing the video. Music executive Ubi Franklin equally joined the initiative on Saturday, identifying Joy as one of the beneficiaries of his ₦40m birthday giveaway.
Beyond celebrities, other social media users also contributed, with one pledging to fund the installation of the building’s water closets. Following criticism from some quarters accusing her of soliciting help, Joy defended herself, maintaining that seeking support was preferable to enduring hardship silently.
“Appreciation post. I am so grateful and to the people insulting me that I’m begging, thank you but I rather beg than die in silence,” she wrote in a follow-up post.
She later shared updates on Monday showing that construction work had resumed, including the arrival of a truckload of cement at the site. “Thank you Jesus, I am so grateful to everyone who contributed to this project. We are so grateful. I may not mention you but God sees you and God will uphold and uplift you. Whatever your heart desires, may God grant it unto you in Jesus name. Work has started,” she added.
