The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission (PLASGEOC) has raised concerns over the alleged growing practice of young women, including tertiary institution students, selling their egg cells to fertility clinics in the state.
The commission described the trend as exploitative and a form of gender-based violence, warning of the potential health and social implications for those involved.
Speaking during the Hausa radio program Mutattauna on Unity FM, Jos, the Head of Information Unit of the commission, Mrs. Olivia Dung, revealed that authorities had uncovered a fertility facility where women allegedly sell their ova (egg cells) in exchange for money.
According to her, some young women are reportedly driven by the desire to fund their lifestyles or purchase luxury items.
“People seeking children are charged huge amounts at the facility, while young girls are paid between N120,000 and N150,000 for their ova. Many are doing this to buy expensive phones or meet personal needs,” she alleged.
Mrs. Dung said the commission has launched an aggressive awareness campaign across communities and educational institutions to educate women and girls about the dangers of the practice.
“We are creating awareness to discourage this trend. We plan to engage the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos on the issue. We have already held discussions with the Rector of Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, as well as the management of the College of Education, Gindiri, and the University of Education, Pankshin,” she said.
She added that students had been warned against selling their egg cells, noting that the problem is widespread both in schools and local communities.
The commission also called on parents and other stakeholders to closely monitor their children, attributing the rise in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in some communities to poor parental guidance.
Mrs. Dung urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children, warning that anyone found culpable of exploiting young women would face the full weight of the law.
