A Nigerian non-governmental organization, the Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, has announced 10 fully sponsored in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments for financially disadvantaged couples to mark its first anniversary.
Speaking at the foundation’s anniversary event in Abuja, Founder Dr. Charles Ojeabuo stated that the initiative aims to ensure financial hardship does not permanently deny couples the opportunity to become parents.
"Today, we are giving 10 free IVF treatments for couples who are financially disadvantaged," Dr. Ojeabuo announced, revealing that the foundation had already received over 150 applications for assistance. "We will ensure that people will not have to choose between financial limitations and their dream of parenthood. We will create access, we will create awareness, and we will take action."
Dr. Ojeabuo explained that during its inaugural year, the foundation conducted over 1,500 free fertility consultations, offered discounted care, and introduced the Mothers and Fathers of Faith initiative to provide emotional and spiritual support. He urged government bodies, corporate entities, and philanthropists to invest in fertility care and called for empowerment programs for women whose careers have been disrupted by prolonged treatment.
The initiative received significant financial backing from the Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, who reaffirmed her commitment to sponsoring six women through treatment following a personal vow made on her birthday.
"You can only understand it if you pass through it. I’ve seen this experience firsthand, even in my home," Dr. Oriaran-Anthony said. "Infertility is becoming a global issue that impacts every aspect of human life—financially and emotionally. It has caused loving marriages to crumble and created disharmony between communities and tribes when a woman is blamed and sent packing."
Dr. Oriaran-Anthony emphasized that while science and medical wisdom are gifts, the high cost of treatment and specialized medications puts care out of reach for many.
"The process is not cheap, and the founders don't have all the money, but they have a passion for humanity," she said. "I appeal to every Nigerian with the means to collaborate with this foundation. A little contribution will go a long way to bridge this gap, reverse the narrative, and bring the voices of children into homes where they bring peace."
Declining male fertility and environmental toxins
In his keynote address, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, Secretary General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS, raised concerns over declining sperm concentrations among African men, particularly in Nigeria.
"We have found out that in Africa, especially Nigeria, the sperm count is decreasing. So, the male population is at risk due to decreased sperm concentration," Professor Ashiru said, stressing that reproductive challenges must be treated as a shared responsibility between both partners.
Professor Ashiru attributed the decline to a combination of environmental and lifestyle factors, including exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, diesel emissions, and toxic compounds found in plastics and cosmetics. He added that smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, poor nutrition, and untreated sexually transmitted infections—such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydia—further exacerbate infertility rates, calling for increased public awareness of preconception healthcare.
Also speaking at the event, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, commended the foundation's founders for providing critical support to families navigating fertility challenges.
"What Dr. Charles is doing brings a lot of value to society, and it is something that all of us should support," Mr. Umana said. "Assisted reproductive technology sounds so technical, but it is simply about the process of helping families change their situations. In just one year, this foundation has done a lot to restore hope and bring joy to many families."
He noted that hearing presentations on emotional trauma and legal complexities highlighted that assisted reproduction involves multi-faceted challenges. "It occurred to me that what looks so simple also has legal dimensions and is not something to be taken for granted. Dr. Charles goes beyond the limits of professionalism as a doctor because he is a very humane person," Mr. Umana added.
The Legal Angle
Legal and mental health aspects were further highlighted by fertility law specialist Victoria Ojeabuo and legal practitioner Babayemi Olaniyan, who called for statutory provisions covering gamete donation, embryo rights, and mandatory psychosocial support. Mrs. Ojeabuo announced plans to launch a specialized fertility counselling certification programme in Nigeria to train healthcare workers, social workers, and legal practitioners in managing the complex emotional and legal dimensions of assisted reproduction.
Demands for specialized reproductive legislation
Stakeholders at the event warned that regulatory gaps in Nigeria's expanding assisted reproductive technology (ART) sector leave patients, surrogate mothers, and children vulnerable to commercial exploitation and clinical malpractice.
Former federal lawmaker Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu argued that general healthcare laws and private clinic agreements are no longer sufficient to govern complex procedures like IVF, surrogacy, egg donation, and embryo storage.
"Assisted conception is a very complex science. We need specific laws that can be enforced when we have erring doctors," Dr. Kigbu said, citing the United Kingdom's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority as a regulatory model Nigeria should adopt.
Corroborating his concerns, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Amos Magaji, revealed that the National Assembly is advancing legislation to establish a Nigerian Surrogacy Regulatory Commission. Mr. Magaji noted that the bill passed its second reading in October 2024 to provide legal safeguards around informed consent, parentage, and clinic oversight, while calling for expanded health insurance coverage to make fertility care affordable.
Socio-cultural impact
Addressing the psychological toll of infertility, mental health advocate Dr. Seydat Adamu noted that clinical treatment often neglects the social stigma and emotional distress experienced by couples.
"Infertility is never just biological. In many Nigerian homes, childbearing is personal, but the pressure is public," Dr. Adamu said, urging fertility clinics to integrate confidential psychological counselling into every stage of treatment.
The anniversary gathering brought together senior medical professionals, federal lawmakers, legal experts, and mental health advocates to examine reproductive health trends, clinical standards, and the legal regulation of assisted reproduction in Nigeria.
Beneficiaries share personal experiences
For several beneficiaries present at the event, the foundation’s intervention followed years of emotional and financial strain attempting to overcome reproductive challenges.
Paul Mbanugo recounted that his family spent 14 years seeking medical solutions across Nigeria, describing the journey as deeply trying due to the societal and family pressure placed on couples struggling to conceive. Mr. Mbanugo expressed gratitude to the foundation and its donors, urging them to expand their assistance to reach more families in similar circumstances.
Another beneficiary, Celestina Spurgeon, also expressed her appreciation to the foundation, stating that its intervention had restored hope and brought immense joy to her family.