Hunger, Tuition and Wigs: Inside Nigeria’s Growing Trade in Fertility Eggs

By Tgnews Reporter

A growing number of young Nigerian women are turning to fertility clinics not to seek treatment, but to sell their eggs in exchange for cash, a trend that experts say is raising serious medical, ethical and regulatory concerns.

What was once regarded largely as an act of reproductive assistance for infertile couples is increasingly becoming a source of income for students, unemployed graduates, single mothers and young women struggling to cope with Nigeria’s harsh economic realities.

Investigations by Weekend Trust reveal that fertility clinics in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos have become hubs for egg donation programmes, with payments ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of naira per cycle. While some women say the money helped them pay school fees, feed their families or meet basic needs, others admit they joined the programme to fund lifestyle expenses, including purchasing expensive wigs, phones and fashionable clothing.

The trend has sparked debate among medical professionals, psychologists, legal experts and gender advocates, many of whom warn that economic desperation may be pushing vulnerable young women into a little-understood industry with potentially significant health and emotional consequences.

“I Sold My Eggs to Pay My School Fees”

For one university student, selling her eggs was a financial decision driven by the need to stay in school.

“I needed money to pay my tuition fees, and that was what prompted me to do it,” she said.

She explained that prospective donors undergo a series of medical tests, including genotype screening, blood group analysis and ultrasound scans to determine eligibility. Women who pass the screening process are then placed on hormone injections for about two weeks to stimulate egg production.

According to her, she underwent the procedure twice and received approximately ₦300,000 on each occasion.

Despite receiving support from her parents, she said she wanted to contribute to her educational expenses.

“I sold my eggs to help someone achieve their dream of becoming a parent, and that gives me peace of mind,” she said.

Students Trading Eggs for Lifestyle Upgrades

Not all donors are motivated by survival.

A university student identified as Jumoke Adeyemi admitted that she and some of her peers participate in egg donation programmes to maintain a lifestyle they cannot otherwise afford.

“Even after collecting money from my parents, I still need more to keep up with my schoolmates. I need good wigs, phones and clothes,” she said.

According to her, she received ₦150,000 from her first donation and used the money to purchase a designer wig.

“I don’t see anything wrong with selling my eggs as long as I get the money to take care of my needs,” she added.

Her comments reflect a growing reality in which fertility donations have become a source of disposable income for some young women beyond those facing financial hardship.

Single Mothers Turning to Egg Donation for Survival

For others, however, the decision is rooted in desperation.

Jennifer John, a 29-year-old mother of three, said worsening economic conditions pushed her into egg donation.

“I was sleeping on the floor before then. The money helped me buy a mattress and take care of some needs at home,” she recalled.

Jennifer said she received ₦60,000 for each donation when she participated three years ago.

Similarly, Abuja-based hairstylist and single mother Jemimah John said she considered becoming a donor after struggling to feed her children.

“There were days when my children and I went to bed hungry,” she said.

Although she eventually did not proceed with the process, she said fertility clinic staff suggested surrogacy as an alternative.

Plateau Commission Raises Alarm

Concern over the growing trend recently prompted the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission to launch awareness campaigns across schools and communities.

The commission revealed that young women in Plateau State were reportedly selling their egg cells for between ₦120,000 and ₦150,000.

Speaking on a radio programme in Jos, the commission’s Head of Information Unit, Nene Dung, described the practice as exploitative and warned that many students were being drawn into the industry to fund personal lifestyles.

“Young girls now sell their ova to buy expensive phones or fund their lifestyles,” she said.

The commission has since begun sensitisation programmes in tertiary institutions, urging students to understand the potential risks involved.

The Hidden Risks Behind the Money

While fertility specialists generally regard egg donation as safe when conducted under proper medical supervision, experts say the procedure is not without risks.

One donor interviewed recounted suffering severe complications after undergoing egg retrieval.

“My stomach was swelling, my legs were swollen, and I felt like I was pregnant. I genuinely thought I was going to die,” she said.

After searching online, she later discovered that her symptoms resembled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, a known complication of fertility drugs used to stimulate egg production.

Medical professionals say OHSS can range from mild discomfort to severe and potentially life-threatening complications if not properly monitored.

Several donors also complained of inadequate counselling and insufficient explanation of risks before signing consent forms.

“I had to look everything up myself,” one participant said. “No one explained it clearly at the hospital.”

Emotional Questions Linger

Beyond the physical risks, psychologists warn that egg donation can leave lasting emotional effects.

Clinical psychologist Fame Ikorhishor said some donors experience anxiety, mood changes and regret, particularly when financial hardship heavily influences their decision.

Others struggle with the knowledge that their genetic material may contribute to children they may never know.

“Sometimes I wonder about the families who received the eggs,” one donor admitted.

Regulatory Concerns Mount

Fertility experts argue that Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fertility industry is operating faster than its regulatory framework.

Consultant obstetrician and fertility specialist Akinnagbe Akinbola Fernandez explained that donor eggs are increasingly sought after by women experiencing age-related fertility decline or diminished ovarian reserve.

He said professional guidelines generally recommend limiting egg donations to no more than two cycles to minimise health risks.

However, he expressed concern that Nigeria lacks a central database capable of tracking donations across clinics.

Without such oversight, women can potentially donate repeatedly at multiple facilities without detection.

“This creates a significant monitoring challenge,” he noted.

Legal practitioner Redzie D. Jugo added that while the National Health Act 2014 permits the donation of human tissues and reproductive cells, it prohibits their commercial sale, creating what many observers describe as a legal grey area.

“Outside a few state-level guidelines, there are no uniform national standards governing donor recruitment, compensation, counselling or post-procedure welfare,” he said.

Industry Growing Faster Than Regulation

As Nigeria’s fertility sector continues to expand, experts say stronger regulation, improved public awareness and stricter medical oversight are urgently needed.

For now, however, the industry’s growth appears closely tied to the country’s worsening economic conditions, where the promise of quick cash often outweighs concerns about long-term health implications.

For some women, egg donation represents an opportunity to help struggling families conceive. For others, it has become a means of survival.

But as more young Nigerians exchange fertility eggs for school fees, food, phones and wigs, questions continue to mount about how much they truly understand the risks—and whether enough safeguards exist to protect them.

Daily trust special report