The Ultimate Guide to Surrogacy in Nigeria : Africa's Leading Fertility Capital
- Embryo Logistics
- Aug 24
- 6 min read
Surrogacy is rapidly growing as a family-building option in Nigeria, recognized across Africa as a fertility hub. If you're navigating the surrogacy journey, understanding the full picture — from costs to legalities, medical pathways to shipping logistics — is critical. This guide connects you to key agencies, clinics, legal experts, and service providers to empower your decisions.
Why Might I Need an Egg or Sperm Donor During Surrogacy?
Using an egg or sperm donor can be a necessary part of the surrogacy journey for many intended parents. Here are the main reasons why donors might be needed:
Biological or Medical Challenges:Some intended mothers have low-quality or non-viable eggs due to age, medical conditions, or previous treatments (like chemotherapy). Similarly, male infertility may require donor sperm. In these cases, donor eggs or sperm are essential to create healthy embryos for implantation.
Genetic Conditions:Intended parents may carry genetic disorders they want to avoid passing to their children. Donor eggs or sperm provide a way to ensure the baby does not inherit those conditions.
Single or Same-Sex Parents:Single women or same-sex male couples need donor gametes, especially if they want a biological connection to at least one parent.
Surrogate Not Genetically Related:In gestational surrogacy—the most common type used— the surrogate carries an embryo created from the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material. The surrogate has no biological link to the child.
The IVF process combines sperm and egg in the lab to create embryos that are transferred to the surrogate. This option opens doors for many families who otherwise couldn’t conceive or safely carry a pregnancy.
Egg and sperm donation costs in Nigeria range from ₦500,000 to ₦2,500,000). Clinics and Agencies handle donor matching with strict confidentiality.
IVF Costs and Its Role in the Surrogacy Process
IVF is a non-negotiable part of surrogacy. It usually costs ₦1,000,000 to ₦4,500,000.
IVF is a foundational part of the surrogacy process and thus carries a significant portion of the overall cost. In gestational surrogacy—which is the most common type used in Nigeria and worldwide—IVF is necessary to create the embryo outside of the body. This involves fertilizing the egg with sperm in a lab, then implanting the resulting embryo into the surrogate’s uterus.
Here’s why IVF is essential in surrogacy and what costs you should expect:
IVF Procedure: This includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm preparation, fertilization, embryo culture, and embryo transfer. Clinics typically charge between ₦1,000,000 to ₦2,500,000 depending on complexity and clinic reputation.
Multiple IVF Cycles: Often, more than one IVF cycle is needed to achieve a successful pregnancy, increasing the total cost.
Medications: Hormones and fertility drugs required for stimulation can add ₦100,000 to ₦2,500,000 or more.
Embryo Freezing and Storage: In some cases, embryos are frozen and stored for months, adding additional fees.
Donor Eggs or Sperm: If the intended parents’ eggs or sperm are not viable, donor material is needed—adding donor matching and compensation costs.
Because the surrogate does not provide the eggs, the surrogate is not biologically related to the baby. IVF ensures the use of intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material to create the embryo.
Types of Surrogacy in Nigeria: Understanding Your Options
Commercial Surrogacy, where the surrogate mother is financially compensated beyond
medical expenses, remains the leading type in Nigeria despite evolving legal scrutiny.
Altruistic Surrogacy, where surrogates are reimbursed only for expenses, frequently happens among family members or close friends, facilitating “co-baby” arrangements that provide more emotional security and trust.
Each type has significant legal and ethical considerations, and decisions should be made with expert advice.
Is Surrogacy Legally Allowed in Nigeria?
Nigeria lacks specific surrogacy legislation but is developing a legal landscape with key factors:
Legal recognition for intended parents is still unclear, often leaving surrogates as the legal mothers.
Parental orders, custody battles, and citizenship documentation remain complex issues requiring expert legal support.
Expect regulation progress in the next 2–3 years. Experts such as Ôka’mara Law and Consulting and barrister Undiga Emuekpere provide crucial support navigating these complexities.
Clinics Offering Surrogacy Services in Nigeria
Here are some trusted clinics known for quality care and IVF success:
Olive Branch Clinic - https://www.olivebranchhm.com/
Oasis Fertiliy Clinic - https://oasisfertilityclinic.com/
St Ives Hospital - https://stiveshealthcare.com/
George's Memorial Medical Centre - https://georgesmedical.com/
Leading Surrogacy Agencies in Nigeria
Choose from reputable agencies with proven track records managing medical, legal, and emotional parts of the journey:
Clinic-Led vs. Agency-Led Surrogacy
Surrogacy journeys require careful choices, including whether to work primarily with a fertility clinic or through a surrogacy agency. Each path offers distinct advantages and potential drawbacks.
Clinic-Led Surrogacy
Medical Expertise at the Forefront: Fertility clinics like Olive Branch Clinic and Oasis Clinic manage the entire medical process, ensuring seamless IVF, embryo transfers, and surrogate monitoring.
Direct Access to Specialists: Intended parents interact closely with reproductive endocrinologists and embryologists for tailored medical care.
Streamlined Medical Procedures: Centralized care reduces the potential for miscommunication between providers.
Often Lower Cost: Without intermediary fees, clinic-led surrogacy can be more cost-effective.
Agency-Led Surrogacy
Full-Service Coordination: Agencies like ChrisWorld and ZizoSurrogacy provide end-to-end support—including surrogate matching, psychological screening, counseling, legal contract coordination, and ongoing communication management.
Experienced Legal Guidance: Surrogacy contracts and parental rights complexities are expertly managed in-house or through trusted partners.
Comprehensive Screening: Agencies conduct detailed medical, psychological, background, and financial screenings of surrogates to ensure suitability.
Relationship Mediation: Agencies often act as buffers fostering healthy communications and resolving conflicts.
Making the Choice: What’s Right for You?
The decision depends on your priorities:
If medical precision and direct clinic involvement matter most, clinic-led may suit you best.
If comprehensive support, legal security, and surrogate relationships are priorities, agency-led is ideal.
Both models aim for the same beautiful outcome: your family. Consider your comfort level, budget, and the support network you need for this personal journey.
The Importance of Cryo Shipping in Surrogacy
Cryo shipping is essential—it securely transports fragile embryos, sperm, and eggs at ultra-cold temperatures using liquid nitrogen or dry ice. Two trusted companies supplying this critical service in Nigeria are:
Greenplace Healthcare – Known for hand-carry cryo courier services ensuring temperature stability and sample safety. - www.greenplacehealthcare.co.uk
Cryo Medical Logistics – Experts in secure transport for fertility materials. - www.cryomedicallogstics.com
Proper cryo shipping bridges fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies, ensuring viable embryos arrive for treatment.
Bringing Baby Home: Parental Orders and Legal Parentage
Obtaining parental orders is vital to establish the intended parents’ legal rights. DNA testing is typically required to confirm genetic links. Greenplace Healthcare also offers diagnostic services, including DNA testing, simplifying this process.
Work with respected legal experts such as Ôka’mara Law and Consulting and barrister Undiga Emuekpere to navigate legal recognition, citizenship, and birth registration.
A Parental Order legally transfers parenthood from the surrogate mother to the intended parents, granting them full parental rights and responsibilities over the child. This is crucial because, without a parental order, the surrogate remains the child’s legal mother in most jurisdictions.
Key Legal Steps:
Apply to the Family Court: Submit an application using a specific form (often called Form C51 in the UK or a local equivalent). This must be done within a strict timeframe, usually within 6 months of the child's birth.
Serve Notice to the Surrogate: The surrogate (and her spouse if married) must be formally notified about the application. They need to understand their rights and give informed consent for the order to be granted.
Provide Evidence and Witness Statements: The intended parents must submit detailed witness statements confirming the nature of the surrogacy, the child’s welfare, and how all parties agreed to the arrangement.
Appointment of a Parental Order Reporter: In some jurisdictions (such as the UK), a social worker or designated official will investigate the case, meet the intended parents (and possibly the surrogate), and report to the court with recommendations about the parental order application.
Court Hearing: The court reviews all submitted evidence and the reporter’s recommendations. If satisfied that all legal criteria have been met—including that the surrogate has given informed consent and the child’s welfare is safeguarded—the court grants the parental order.
Issuance of New Birth Certificate: Once approved, the child’s details are legally transferred to the intended parents, and a new birth certificate is issued reflecting their status as the legal parents.
Important Conditions to Meet:
The conception must have occurred through artificial means (e.g., IVF).
At least one intended parent must be genetically related to the child (egg or sperm donor).
The intended parents must have the child living with them at the time of application.
The application must be made within a prescribed time limit after birth (commonly six months).
No money should have changed hands beyond reasonable expenses for the surrogate.
Additional Notes:
If neither intended parent is genetically related to the child, adoption might be required instead.
DNA testing is often necessary to establish a genetic link, which can be facilitated by providers such as Greenplace Healthcare, who offer both diagnostic and legal support services.
Next Steps and Support Contacts
If you’re ready to begin or want personalized guidance:
Connect with ChrisWorld Surrogacy or ZizoSurrogacy for agency support.
Consult medical leaders like Oasis Fertility Clinic.
Reach legal experts at Ôka’mara Law.
Consider hand carry cryo shipping providers Greenplace Healthcare and Cryo Medical Logistics for secure transport.
For questions or introductions to trusted surrogacy professionals, contact us directly—we’re here to help you on every step of your fertility journey.
Phone: +442081500059
WhatsApp: +447585610211
