What surrogacy is
In surrogacy, a woman carries a pregnancy for someone else. This guide covers gestational surrogacy, where an embryo is created through IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and placed in the surrogate's womb. The surrogate does not use her own egg, so she is not the child's genetic mother.
The eggs and sperm can come from the intended parents, or from a screened donor. Who provides them shapes the legal and citizenship steps, so we raise it on the first call.
Who it can help
Surrogacy is usually considered when a woman cannot carry a pregnancy, or when carrying one would be unsafe for her. Single people also ask about it. Whether it is right for you is a medical and personal decision. Your own fertility doctor advises on the medical side, and we never ask you to share medical details on this website.
The law in Nigeria
Nigeria has no single national law on surrogacy. Lagos State has issued its own guidelines on assisted reproduction. Elsewhere, an arrangement rests on carefully written agreements.
What this means for you. The agreements matter a great deal. With us, they are prepared by our barrister and explained to everyone before signing. You should also ask a lawyer in your home country how your country treats the arrangement. We coordinate with them. We are not a law firm.
Laws and guidelines change. Ask every lawyer to confirm the position on the day you sign.
The people involved
- You, the intended parents. You make the decisions and sign the agreements.
- The surrogate. She is screened, and gives her consent in writing. In an anonymous program you do not meet her. In a known program you do. You choose.
- The clinic and doctors. Your own hospital or one of our partner clinics provides the treatment and monitors the pregnancy.
- Our barrister. Ugochukwu Augustin Unegbu, Esq. prepares and handles the agreements and the legal work for the program.
- A lawyer at home. For your own country's rules on parentage and citizenship.
- Us. We coordinate the whole process and keep you informed.
The medical steps
- Your doctors assess whether surrogacy is medically appropriate for you.
- Embryos are created through IVF, using your eggs and sperm or donor material.
- The surrogate is screened medically and psychologically.
- An embryo is transferred to the surrogate's womb.
- The pregnancy is monitored by doctors until the birth.
Your doctors decide the details. If you want to understand the terms, our glossary explains them in plain words.
The legal steps
- Written agreements prepared by our barrister, explained to everyone and signed before any treatment starts.
- Birth registration in Nigeria after the birth.
- For many families, DNA testing to document the genetic link.
- Citizenship papers, a passport and travel documents for your child.
The last two depend on your country. See where you live.
How long it takes
Most families take 11 to 15 months from the first consultation to bringing baby home, depending on how ready you are to start. Matching, the medical plan, the agreements and the pregnancy each take time, and paperwork after the birth takes more.
What it costs
Most full surrogacy journeys with us cost USD 14,000 – 20,000, depending on your program and medical plan. See what the cost covers.
The emotional side
Surrogacy brings hope, worry, gratitude and sometimes guilt, often in the same week. That is normal. Our article on the psychological impact of surrogacy on future parents may help, and so can speaking to a counsellor who knows fertility.
Choosing an agency
Ask every agency, including us, the same five questions: can I read the full contract before I pay, who prepares the agreements, what will it cost in writing, how will my child get citizenship and travel documents, and what happens if something goes wrong. See the five questions with good and bad answers, and how to check any agency.
Ready to talk it through?
A private consultation with our team. We listen first, then explain what we can and cannot do for you.