“It’s less than N150K. I paid my agent N30K, the nurses N20K, so I left with 100K, I think. I was so desperate and it seemed like the only thing I could do then.”
An investigation reveals how Nigerian students are lured into risky egg donations with promises of quick money, often facing health consequences.
Imade Ayodeji (pseudonym), a 22-year-old student, was approached by a woman posing as a medical expert who convinced her to sell her eggs for financial relief. “These eggs are being flushed out anyway,” the woman argued, offering Imade a way to fund her education. Like many struggling students, Imade saw it as a lifeline—until she discovered the hidden risks. Facebook groups like “Egg Donation and Surrogacy” openly recruit donors, offering N150,000 to N200,000 per egg, targeting vulnerable young women on campuses.
Chiamaka, a 20-year-old undergraduate, recounted the aggressive tactics used by agents: *”They sweet-talk you, saying it’s just one injection for 150k, but they won’t tell you the health risks.”* Many students, pressured by financial hardship, undergo the procedure multiple times, unaware of potential long-term effects. Middlemen and fertility clinics profit from their desperation, dismissing concerns with promises of easy money.
Medical experts warn that unregulated egg extraction can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, infertility, or even life-threatening complications. Yet, with rising economic struggles, students continue to take the risk. “Why target schools? Because they know we’re vulnerable,” Chiamaka lamented, highlighting a growing crisis where survival outweighs safety.
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