Growing Crisis as Nigerian Female Students Trade Their Eggs for Survival Amid Economic Hardship, Doctor Warns

 

A Nigerian medical professional has raised a deeply troubling concern that is quickly drawing attention across social media platforms. He describes it as a “silent pandemic” sweeping through the country’s universities, one where young women are increasingly exchanging their eggs for cash at fertility clinics.

This emerging trend, according to the doctor, stems from the worsening economic conditions gripping Nigeria. With tuition fees rising, living costs spiraling, and job opportunities shrinking, many students have found themselves in desperate situations. In such a climate, the prospect of receiving a few hundred thousand naira for egg donation becomes not just tempting, but a perceived lifeline.

According to his social media post, the problem isn’t just about the act of donation itself. It’s about the alarming motivations driving it and the potentially irreversible consequences young women may face. The tweet, which has since gone viral, included a chilling image of a gloved hand holding a test tube containing what appears to be a freshly retrieved egg. It was a stark visual metaphor for what he referred to as the selling of "future children for peanuts."

The doctor’s post emphasized a lack of public discourse on the issue. “Our young ladies are selling their future children for peanuts due to harsh economic situations and everyone is silent,” he wrote. His choice of words stirred reactions, especially among Nigerian youth, healthcare professionals, and women’s rights advocates.

Many observers argue that egg donation is a legitimate medical practice, often conducted ethically in fertility clinics across the globe. However, what makes the situation in Nigeria more complex is the underlying reason these donations are happening at such a frequency among students. It’s not out of altruism or medical necessity, but from financial desperation. The process is legal, but the ethical questions surrounding consent and coercion are harder to navigate when poverty is the driving force.

A fertility specialist at a private clinic in Lagos, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed an uptick in egg donors between the ages of 18 and 25 in recent years. Most, she said, are university students. She expressed concern over the insufficient counseling many of them receive before undergoing the process. “They walk in, are briefed for 10 or 15 minutes, and they’re ready to go. Many don’t understand what they’re giving up or the risks involved.”

The procedure itself isn’t without its hazards. Egg retrieval requires hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries, followed by a surgical procedure to extract the eggs. While generally safe when managed properly, complications can include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bleeding, or infection. Moreover, the long-term effects of repeated donations are still not fully understood.

Several former donors have come forward anonymously to share their experiences. One 23-year-old student at a federal university admitted she had donated eggs three times in under two years, each time for ₦150,000 to ₦200,000. “I needed the money to pay rent, buy textbooks, and survive. It felt like an easy choice at the time,” she said. But now, she’s not so sure. “Nobody told me how I might feel later or what could happen to my health in the long run.”

Critics argue that fertility clinics have a duty to do more. That includes implementing stricter ethical guidelines, offering comprehensive counseling, and ensuring women fully understand the risks involved. Some have even called for the Nigerian government to step in and regulate the industry more stringently.

At the heart of the issue lies a broader conversation about youth poverty and access to economic opportunities. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to face unemployment and underemployment crises, especially among the youth. For many students, financial aid and scholarships are either inaccessible or insufficient, leaving them to fend for themselves in an unforgiving system.

What appears to be a medical transaction is, in truth, a reflection of deeper structural issues. The rise in egg donations by female students may just be one of the many ways the economic downturn is reshaping the lives and choices of Nigeria’s young population.

The doctor's call to action wasn’t only to highlight the problem but to demand attention. He urged civil society, parents, educational institutions, and the government to address the issue holistically. Until then, this silent trade of hope may continue in the shadows, driven by circumstances beyond the control of the young women caught in its grip.

There is a current pandemic of egg donation among young ladies in Nigerian universities and no one is talking about it. Our young ladies are selling their future children for peanuts due to harsh economic situations and everyone is silent. Fertility centres in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/0wLEsXxftA

— Dr Penking™🇳🇬🇦🇺 (@drpenking) July 16, 2025