Nollywood actress Ini Edo has spoken up about her personal experience of becoming a mother through surrogacy.
The moviestar recently revealed that she was fully involved in every step of the process with the woman who carried her child.
Speaking at the Meet Surrogate Mothers IVF Conference in Lagos, Ini emphasised the need to reshape public perception of surrogacy by highlighting the emotional depth, shared responsibility, and human connection that define the journey.
According to her, she never saw her baby carrier as a vessel because she believes surrogacy is not simply about a woman carrying a child for another; it is about two women walking a path together.
The actress stated that intended mothers should be actively engaged in parenting even before birth, regardless of how their children are conceived.
“She wasn’t just a vessel. I was involved every step of the way — from prenatal care and medical decisions to emotional bonding during the pregnancy. Surrogacy is not simply about a woman carrying a child for another. It’s about two women walking a path together.
Even though they are not physically carrying this child, they sort of walk the journey together. So when people reduce surrogacy to being just a baby factory, I think they erase these layers of humanity.
They overlook the safeguards, the ethics, the choice. They forget that love can take many forms, and sometimes the most profound acts of love come from someone who carries your child but doesn’t raise them.
Someone who lends her body so another can cry in the future. That is why we need a new narrative. A narrative that champions ethical surrogacy, grounded in informed consent, legal protection, and mutual respect. The world where no woman is being exploited, but also where no family is ever denied hope simply because their path to parenthood looks different,” she said.
Ini Edo further noted that surrogacy should not be reduced to a baby factory, stressing that it should be viewed as a bridge between despair and joy.
She concluded by applauding the House of Representatives for banning commercial surrogacy in Nigeria.
“Surrogacy is not perfect. It needs revelation, transparency, and empathy, but it’s not a factory. It’s a bridge. A bridge between despair and joy. Between strangers who become families. Between the impossible and the miraculous.
Talking about regulation, I was happy to recently read in the news that the House of Representatives moved to ban commercial surrogacy in Nigeria.
Further propose a jail term and a N2 million fine on culprits. Other key provisions of the bill include banning commercial surrogacy. The agreement must be strictly altruistic. No financial profit is involved except for reimbursing medical and pregnancy-related expenses.
Explicit protection against coercion or forced surrogacy arrangements, amongst others. We need legal protection and clarity. 3. Nigerian law should recognise and protect the rights of mothers through surrogacy, ensuring full legal parentage and avoiding court disputes.
Surrogacy deserves respect, not stigma. It’s a modern solution to infertility. Just like IVF or adoption, it should not be shamed or seen as less than traditional motherhood.
Motherhood is more than biology. Raising, nurturing, and loving a child defines motherhood, not just childbirth. A surrogate may carry the baby, but the intended mother gives the child a home and a life,” she added.
