Abuja, Nigeria — A new charity foundation dedicated to assisted conception has issued a public plea to the Nigerian government to prioritise fertility support programmes within its national health agenda, arguing that infertility is a neglected public health issue.
The call was made by Dr. Charles Ojeabuo, Founder of the Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, at its official launch in Abuja. The event immediately provided financial relief to struggling families, offering full and partial sponsorships for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment.
Restoring Hope Through Assisted Conception
Dr. Ojeabuo said the initiative was born out of the need to restore hope for couples who have waited years to have children, describing assisted conception—which includes IVF, sperm/egg donation, embryo transfer, and surrogacy—as a “divine tool.” He affirmed his belief that such procedures are not contrary to divine will, calling it “faith in motion.”
At the launch, five couples received full IVF sponsorship, five others were granted a 50% subsidy, and every couple in attendance received a 20% discount. The foundation plans to partner with accredited fertility centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ensure treatment is accessible and adheres to strict medical, infectious, and psychological screening standards for all donors.
The “Silent Pain” of Infertility
Mrs. Victoria Ojeabuo, the foundation’s National Director, who experienced secondary infertility herself, highlighted the significant emotional and psychological burden that accompanies infertility. She noted that while couples “look normal, they carry silent pain,” and stated the goal is to “meet them halfway” through financial sponsorships.
Mrs. Ojeabuo provided key statistics on the challenge in Nigeria, estimating that 30% of cases are male-related, 30% are female-related, and 30% are combined, with 10% having unknown causes. She urged philanthropists to collaborate, stressing that the foundation represents a “circle of humanity” bound by shared hope, as Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Anthony-Orianran, the foundation’s patron, added that sometimes a family simply needs a “little push” to realise their destiny.
Celebrity Support and Legal Clarity
The foundation received a major boost from celebrity support, with visibly pregnant actress and comedienne, Anita Asuoha (Real Warri Pikin), paying a moving tribute. She praised the founders for their initiative in “giving hope to families who have all but lost hope” and commended Dr. Anthony-Orianran for supporting the work.
From a legal perspective, guest speaker Babayemi Olawole strongly advised couples to choose gestational surrogacy over traditional surrogacy, as the latter grants the surrogate biological rights to the child. While acknowledging there is no specific national law for Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) in Nigeria, Olawole stated that the practice is legally backed by the Constitution’s provision for private and family life. He also cited the Child Rights Act and the Code of Medical Ethics as foundational guidelines, noting that Lagos State has independently established ART practice guidelines since 2019. He concluded by advising couples to ensure multiple consent forms are signed with a surrogate mother throughout the process and to avoid knowing her personally.
The foundation pledged to continue providing medical, emotional, and spiritual support to ensure no family is left behind in the journey to parenthood.
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