Church raises ethical concerns over IVF and medical exploitation
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is urging the Federal Government to regulate fertility clinics across the country, warning that many operate without professional oversight and pose serious risks to clients.
The call was made on Sunday at the 2nd plenary session of the CBCN for 2025, held in Ikot Ekpene Diocese, Akwa Ibom State.
“IVF commodifies human life,” says Archbishop Ugorji
Delivering the keynote address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji raised ethical concerns over the increasing use—and abuse—of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Nigeria, particularly by Catholic couples and young people.
“Even university students now sell their eggs and sperm for money,” Ugorji said. “IVF separates the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage. The Church considers this practice gravely immoral.”
He emphasized that every human embryo has inherent dignity and a right to life, and warned against practices that treat embryos as commodities or allow for their disposal.
Unlicensed clinics pose health and financial risks
The Archbishop pointed out that while some fertility centers are run by certified experts, many others are operated by unqualified or unlicensed individuals, leaving patients vulnerable to:
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Medical complications
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Permanent infertility
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Financial exploitation
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Death in extreme cases
“This situation urgently calls for government regulation and ethical guidelines,” Ugorji stressed.
Bishops also sound alarm on education decline, environmental crisis
The CBCN also used the platform to highlight three additional areas of concern:
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The erosion of educational standards, especially in so-called “miracle examination centers” that promote exam malpractice during WAEC and NECO.
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Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, due to oil spills, gas flaring, and mining, which continue to devastate local communities.
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Neglect of ethical and ecological education, which the bishops believe is essential for societal renewal.
Ugorji urged all Catholic dioceses and religious congregations to benchmark their schools against new national minimum standards and work to restore integrity to the education system.
Calls for unity and peace across faith and culture
Earlier in his homily, Bishop Camillus Umo of the Ikot Ekpene Diocese emphasized national unity and the need for mutual respect across Nigeria’s diverse cultural backgrounds.
He said unity and love are key to reducing social tension and promoting peace.
FG, lawmakers respond with praise and promises
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, acknowledged the Church’s influence on national character and values.
He urged faith leaders to continue promoting peace and discouraging extremism.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who chaired the event, praised the Catholic Church for its longstanding role in education and healthcare, describing it as a vital partner in national development.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno also commended the Church, calling it the largest non-governmental investor in social services across Nigeria.
