By Segun Ojumu
Abuja, Nigeria A new non-profit organisation, Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, has officially launched in Abuja with a passionate call to the Nigerian government to include fertility care and assisted conception in the nation’s public health priorities.
Speaking at the foundation’s unveiling, the founder, Dr. Charles Ojeabuo, described infertility as a neglected public health issue that requires urgent national attention. He said the foundation was established to “restore hope to families who have waited for years to experience the joy of parenthood.”
Restoring Hope Through Science and Compassion
As part of its launch, the foundation immediately awarded full IVF sponsorships to five couples, offered 50% subsidies to another five, and granted 20% discounts to every couple present at the event.
Dr. Ojeabuo explained that the initiative seeks to make assisted conception procedures including IVF, sperm and egg donation, embryo transfer, and surrogacy more accessible and less stigmatized.
“Assisted conception is not a contradiction to divine will; it is faith in motion,” he said. “Our mission is to give families a chance to believe again.”
He added that the foundation would collaborate with accredited fertility centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ensure all procedures meet strict medical, infectious, and psychological standards.
The Silent Pain of Infertility
The foundation’s National Director, Mrs. Victoria Ojeabuo, who has personally experienced secondary infertility, described infertility as “a silent pain” many couples endure behind closed doors.
“They look normal, but they carry deep emotional wounds,” she said. “Our goal is to meet them halfway through financial sponsorships and support.”
She shared that about 30% of infertility cases are male-related, 30% female-related, 30% combined, while 10% remain unexplained. Mrs. Ojeabuo urged philanthropists and partners to join the initiative, emphasizing that “Circle Mom represents a circle of humanity bound by shared hope.”
The foundation’s patron, Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Anthony-Orianran, added that sometimes, all a family needs “is a little push to realize their destiny.”
Celebrity Endorsement and Legal Insight
The event drew celebrity attention, with comedian and actress Anita Asuoha (Real Warri Pikin) who is currently expecting a child giving an emotional tribute to the founders for “bringing hope to those who had all but lost it.”
In his presentation, legal expert Babayemi Olawole advised couples to opt for gestational surrogacy rather than traditional surrogacy, explaining that the latter can legally entitle the surrogate to parental rights.
He noted that while Nigeria currently lacks a specific national law governing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), the practice is supported by the Constitution’s provisions on private and family life, alongside the Child Rights Act and the Code of Medical Ethics. Lagos State, he added, has already set a precedent with its ART practice guidelines introduced in 2019.
Olawole urged couples to sign multiple consent agreements during surrogacy arrangements and to maintain professional distance from surrogate mothers to avoid complications.
A Commitment to No Family Left Behind
The Circle Mom Fertility Foundation pledged to continue providing medical, emotional, and spiritual support for couples across Nigeria. Dr. Ojeabuo reaffirmed the organisation’s long-term commitment to ensuring that “no family is left behind on the journey to parenthood.”
