SURROGACY IN NIGERIA: A CASE FOR REGULATION

Abstract

Reproduction, the ability to procreate a life remains a vital essence of life
especially in marriage as it makes or mars the marital journey in most
African societies. Women cherish the capacity to procreate and look
forward to motherhood experiences. However, due to one factor or another
taking its toll on the human body, some persons do not have the ability to
reproduce and are led to seeking alternative options such as surrogacy,
adoption and many more. Surrogacy has been found to overcome the choice
of adoption that was once the choice of persons desiring to have a child as
surrogacy has provided opportunity for those who want their own child
using their sperm or egg or both in some cases, thereby creating some
biological link with the child. However, it is the finding of this paper that
not all countries practice surrogacy and in Nigeria where the act is carried
out does not have a proper legal framework guiding the practice of
surrogacy in Nigeria. This paper recommends that it will be beneficial to
have in the practice encouraged in order to give reproduction rights and
motherhood to any woman through regularization; legal framework that
will deal with all issues of surrogacy.