A Nigerian woman has ignited a wave of online reactions after sharing a viral video in which she described her desperate attempt to become a surrogate mother six years ago.
In the emotional testimony, she accused surrogacy agencies of exploitative practices, outlining the strict, isolating conditions she was expected to endure for a payment of ₦1.3 million.
Now a successful entrepreneur, she used her story to highlight the extreme lengths vulnerable women often go to for financial survival, while also delivering a hopeful message to single mothers and divorcees.
The Controversial Surrogacy Terms
In the video, the unnamed woman detailed the stringent conditions attached to the agency’s ₦1.3 million offer.
According to her account, the surrogacy agreement required complete separation from her support system for the entire duration of the pregnancy.
Agency’s Terms
Total Compensation: A final payout of ₦1.3 million upon delivering the baby.
Monthly Stipend: A ₦50,000 monthly feeding allowance during the pregnancy.
Mandatory Relocation: Staying exclusively in accommodation provided by the agency.
Strict Isolation: A total ban on visiting family or receiving any visitors for the full nine months.
She exclaimed, “How would they offer me 1.3 million Naira to carry a baby? These surrogate companies are very wicked. They will take the baby from me and I’ll return to the streets with stretch marks for just 1.3 million Naira.”
A Backstory of Desperation and Resilience
She explained that the incident occurred six years ago after a harsh divorce left her with nothing. Having walked away from her car, business, and assets, she was left to care for two toddler boys without any financial resources.
Determined to rebuild her life, she placed her children with her mother and moved to Lagos with hopes of attending fashion school.
Upon realizing she could not afford the tuition, she turned to surrogacy as a last resort to raise funds.
Drawing from her own difficult pregnancies—including a near‑death experience during her second pregnancy that required a blood transfusion—she negotiated for a higher fee of ₦2 million.
She recalled, “I know what it means to be pregnant because I’ve been… I’m a mom of two. I know how I couldn’t sleep for nine months. I was vomiting, the body pain, the discomfort.” She added, “I was begging them for ₦2 million. I didn’t want to endure all of that for just 1.3 million.”
The agency refused to meet her asking price, and she ultimately walked away from the deal.
“That Money Is Nothing Now”: A Message of Hope
She concluded the video on a triumphant note, expressing deep gratitude for her personal and financial growth since that dark period.
The ₦1.3 million she once begged for is now an amount she casually spends on a plane ticket or jewelry.
Her story has resonated deeply with netizens, sparking conversations about the regulation of surrogacy in Nigeria and the protection of vulnerable women.
She ended with a heartfelt message to women facing similar hardships:
“If you’re a single mom, if you’re a divorcee, if you’re going through anything, please just know that life will get better for you. Just hang on. Hang on, my darlings.”
Watch the video here…
Lady shares how a surrogate company only offered to pay 1.3 million for carrying a baby. She told them to make it 2 million; they said no. They’d only give her 50k every month and 1.3 million at the end, and she wouldn’t be able to see her family throughout. pic.twitter.com/zfDuucDwwn
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