Nollywood actress Ini Edo has shared details about her journey of having a child through surrogacy. She reveals that she was closely involved in every part of the process alongside the surrogate who carried her child.
At the Meet Surrogate Mothers IVF Conference in Lagos, Edo emphasized the importance of changing how surrogacy is viewed by the public. She highlighted that the journey involves emotional depth, shared responsibility, and a strong human connection between all parties involved.
Ini Edo stated, “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.”
She advocated for more open and honest discussions about various fertility options. Ini Edo noted that mothers who plan to raise their children are actively involved in parenting even before the child is born, regardless of the method of conception.
“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 emphasized that surrogacy shouldn’t be viewed as merely a “baby factory.” Instead, it should be seen as a pathway that connects despair to joy, turns strangers into families, and makes the seemingly impossible into a miraculous reality.
“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”, she said.
The actress pushed for a new perspective on surrogacy that promotes ethical practices. These practices should be based on informed consent, legal protection, and mutual respect.
She also highlighted the importance of having clear legal safeguards in surrogacy agreements to ensure the rights of surrogate mothers and intended mothers are acknowledged and protected.
She continued, “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.
Ini Edo defended surrogacy against stigma, stating that it “deserves respect, not stigma.” She views it as a “modern solution to infertility” comparable to IVF or adoption, and believes it shouldn’t be shamed or seen as inferior to traditional motherhood.
She emphasized that “Motherhood is more than biology. Raising, nurturing, and loving a child defines motherhood, not just childbirth.” While a surrogate carries the baby, the intended mother provides a home and life for the child.
Ini Edo shared that surrogacy gave her the greatest gift and taught her that family is defined by “love, sacrifice, and unwavering belief” rather than biology or tradition. She encouraged others to understand and respect surrogacy as a valid solution to infertility.
She said, “Nothing gives me more joy than my child. Surrogacy gives me the greatest gifts… family isn’t defined by biology or tradition. It’s defined by love, sacrifice, and unwavering belief.”
Ini Edo asked people to “listen” before judging, to “understand” before generalizing, and to see surrogacy as “a profound expression of humanity” rather than just a business. She reassured those on a similar path that “there’s no wrong way to become a parent,” each journey is unique, valid, and beautiful as long as it’s within the law.
She described her journey to motherhood as “unconventional” and “complicated” but also “courageous”, filled with “grace, grit, and… love.” It didn’t make her less of a mother; instead, it deepened her connection to the idea that motherhood is carried in the soul.
Ini Edo concluded, “Sometimes, the path to your dream doesn’t come in packages that you expect. But if you dare to trust the journey… You might find yourself holding a miracle you once thought was out of reach.”
