Desperate tertiary students across Kwara State have begun selling their reproductive cells to intermediaries as Nigeria’s economic downturn pushes young people to extreme survival measures.
The practice, which involves students selling sperm and eggs through medical personnel acting as middlemen, has become increasingly common at institutions including Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, and the state polytechnic.
Sources within the network revealed that male donors typically receive between N30,000 and N50,000 per transaction, with fees varying based on individual negotiations. The intermediaries, often medical personnel with established connections, facilitate meetings between donors and prospective clients whilst taking commission from the transactions.
The alarming trend prompted urgent discussions at the Kwara State House of Assembly during a recent plenary session, where lawmakers expressed serious concerns about what they termed “unregulated sperm and egg donation” amongst students.
Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu, who represents Owode/Onire Constituency, brought the matter to her colleagues’ attention, highlighting the vulnerability of cash-strapped students.
“Many students, due to financial hardship, are lured by monetary incentives without a proper understanding of the medical, psychological, social, ethical, and moral consequences of their actions,” Shittu stated during the assembly session.
The lawmaker particularly emphasised the severe health risks associated with egg donation, warning of complications including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, potential infections, and long-term fertility problems that could affect donors for years to come.
Medical experts have consistently warned against such unregulated practices, citing the absence of proper screening procedures and follow-up care that could leave young donors facing serious health consequences.
The development reflects the broader economic challenges facing Nigerian students, with many struggling to afford basic necessities including accommodation, feeding, and academic materials as inflation continues to erode purchasing power.
Student welfare advocates have described the trend as both “dangerous and exploitative,” arguing that vulnerable young people are being taken advantage of during their most financially precarious period.
Shittu has called for immediate government intervention, urging authorities to launch comprehensive sensitisation campaigns across all tertiary institutions in the state to educate students about the risks involved in reproductive cell donation.
The lawmaker stressed that such awareness programmes should cover not only the immediate health implications but also the long-term psychological and social consequences that donors might face.
Several student leaders have echoed calls for increased financial support schemes and improved welfare programmes that could provide alternative means of survival for struggling students.
