The Kwara State House of Assembly has raised concern over reports that some students in tertiary institutions across the state are selling their sperm and eggs as a means of survival.
The matter was brought to plenary by Rukayat Shittu, member representing Owode/Onire Constituency, who cited findings from Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Describing the trend as disturbing, Shittu warned that it poses serious medical, psychological, social and moral risks to the affected students.
She explained that many students are lured by financial incentives and often connect with intermediaries, mostly medical personnel involved in the trade, who then link them with prospective clients. Male donors, she said, reportedly receive between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000, depending on negotiations.
While sperm donation carries certain health risks, she noted that egg donation is even more hazardous, often involving hormone treatments and invasive procedures that can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), infections, and long-term fertility complications.
Shittu stressed that most students enter these arrangements without fully understanding the consequences, driven largely by economic hardship.
She therefore called on relevant government agencies to launch sensitisation campaigns across tertiary institutions to educate students and protect them from potential exploitation.
The motion has since generated public debate. While some residents praised the initiative, others questioned the lack of verifiable data to substantiate the claims.
A resident, Yahaya Bola Nurudeen, described the motion as timely and necessary. “This is one of the good and important motions. Students must be sensitised about the implications,” he said.
Another resident, Musa Tajudeen, attributed the development to deepening poverty. “Ninety percent of them know the implications, but poverty clouds their judgment. The government needs to address what is pushing people to this act,” he said.
Although the Assembly’s intervention has sparked widespread discussion, stakeholders continue to advocate for a data-driven approach, alongside broader socioeconomic reforms to address the root causes.
