University of Ibadan Raises Concerns Over Students Who Are Selling Their Eggs For IVF

• Nigerian Girls Are Selling Their Eggs To Survive 

The management of the University of Ibadan has raised the alarm over the rising number of female students donating eggs for in-vitro fertilisation procedures.

University Health Service Director Dr Aderonke Ajayi issued a memo on April 15 warning that egg donation is being treated as a quick source of income by some students. The advisory, obtained by NaijaChoice News, stressed that while the practice helps couples battling infertility, it must not become a “side hustle.”

Recruiters and agents have intensified efforts to sign up young women on campus, the memo noted. Many students, facing high tuition fees and the harsh economic climate, see the payments as easy relief.

Studies show over 90 per cent of egg donors in Nigeria are driven mainly by money rather than any desire to help others. Donors typically collect between ₦150,000 and ₦350,000 per cycle, while fertility clinics charge recipients up to ₦7 million.

Health experts point to serious short-term risks including severe abdominal pain, bloating, mood swings and, in extreme cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome that can lead to blood clots or kidney problems. Long-term effects on fertility remain unclear because local data is limited.

Nigeria still lacks a comprehensive national law regulating assisted reproductive technology. The National Health Act of 2014 offers only partial guidance, leaving clinics largely to self-regulate and leaving donors exposed.

An intel from the university, told NaijaChoice News that poverty and weak oversight are pushing more students into the trade. She called for urgent passage of the long-awaited Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill.

University authorities are urging students to seek proper medical counselling and limit donations to reputable centres. Parents have also been advised to speak openly with their daughters about the dangers.

The development has sparked fresh debate on how the “Sapa” economy is forcing young Nigerian women to trade parts of their bodies just to survive.

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