Nollywood actress Ini Edo has opened up about her personal surrogacy experience, stating that she was completely connected with the woman who bore her child at every stage of the procedure.
Speaking at the Meet Surrogate Mothers IVF Conference in Lagos, Edo emphasised the importance of changing the way the general public views surrogacy by emphasising the journey’s emotional depth, shared responsibility, and personal connection.
“She wasn’t just a vessel,” Ini Edo said. “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.”
The actress urged more open discussions about fertility options, pointing out that, regardless of how their children are created, intended mothers are actively involved in parenting even before giving birth.
“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.”
Ini Edo further emphasised that rather than being viewed as a “baby factory,” surrogacy should be viewed as a means of bridging the gap between tragedy and happiness, strangers becoming family, and the impossibly becoming wonderful.
“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”, Ini Edo said.
The actress promoted a fresh perspective on ethical surrogacy that is based on respect for one another, informed consent, and legal protection.
Ini Edo also underlined the importance of legal protection and transparency in surrogacy agreements, making sure that surrogate mothers’ rights are acknowledged and safeguarded.
Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFp_rlS91sg
“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,” the actress clarified.
While further defending surrogacy against stigma, Ini Edo said: “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 said.
“Nothing gives me more joy than my child. Surrogacy gives me the greatest gifts, but more importantly, it taught me that family isn’t defined by biology or tradition. It’s defined by love, sacrifice, and unwavering belief.”
According to Ini Edo, surrogacy was the greatest gift she ever received and taught her that love, sacrifice, and steadfast faith define a family more so than biology or tradition.
Like IVF or adoption, she urged others to recognise and value surrogacy as a contemporary way to address infertility.
“As someone who has worked this path, I only ask, before we judge, let us listen. Before we generalise, let us understand.
“And before we speak of surrogacy as a business, let us see it for what it can be, a profound expression of humanity. To anyone working a similar path, know there’s no wrong way to become a parent.
“There’s only your way and your story, no matter how different it looks. It’s still deep, beautiful and deeply yours, as long as you’re within the laws.
“My journey to Motherhood looks different. It was unconventional. It was complicated. But it was also courageous. It was filled with grace, grit, and, above all, love. It didn’t make me any less of a mother.
“If anything, it made me more aware of the power of faith and more attuned to the miracle of life. I’m more deeply connected to the idea that motherhood isn’t just something you carry in your body, it is something you carry in your soul,” the actress said.
“If you take nothing from my story, please take this. Sometimes, the path to your dream doesn’t come in packages that you expect. But if you dare to trust the journey, even though messy, uncertain, heart‑breaking paths, you might find yourself holding a miracle you once thought was out of reach.”
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
