Motherhood for Hire? Inside Nigeria’s Controversial New Surrogacy Bill

In recent times, surrogacy has become a prominent topic of global discussion, ranging from individuals or couples who choose not to carry their children naturally to those who face serious health complications and are physically unable to do so. Amidst the growing discourse on this deeply personal yet globally significant issue, a pertinent question arises:

What exactly is surrogacy?
According to the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child or behalf of another person or couple (the intended or commissioning parents).

There are two main types of surrogacy:
Gestational Surrogacy: The surrogate’s egg is not used for conception. The embryo is created using the egg and sperm of the intended parents (or donors), meaning the surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg and is artificially inseminated with the intended father’s sperm. This results in a genetic connection between the surrogate and the child.