“I was begging for N2m” — Lady calls out surrogate company over N1.3m offer, unfavourable conditions
A Nigerian woman has ignited a wave of online reactions following a viral video in which she recounted her desperate attempt to become a surrogate mother six years ago.
In the emotional tell-all, she called out surrogacy agencies for exploitative practices, detailing the strict, isolating conditions she was expected to endure for ₦1.3 million.
The woman, who is now a successful entrepreneur, used her story to highlight the severe lengths vulnerable women often go to for financial survival, while also delivering a message of hope to single mothers and divorcees.
The Controversial Surrogacy Terms
In the video, the unnamed woman detailed the stringent conditions attached to the agency’s ₦1.3 million offer.
According to her account, the surrogacy agreement required complete separation from her support system for the entire duration of the pregnancy.
The agency’s terms included:
Total Compensation: A final payout of ₦1.3 million upon delivering the baby.
Monthly Stipend: A ₦50,000 monthly feeding allowance during the pregnancy.
Mandatory Relocation: Staying exclusively in an accommodation provided by the agency.
Strict Isolation: A complete ban on visiting her family or receiving any visitors for the full nine months.
“How would they offer me 1.3 million Naira to carry a baby? These surrogate companies, they are very wicked,” she stated in the video. “They will carry the baby from me and I’ll go back to the street with stretch marks for 1.3 million Naira.”
A Backstory of Desperation and Resilience
Sharing the deeply personal context behind her decision, the woman explained that the incident took place six years ago following a harsh divorce that left her with nothing.
Having walked away from her car, business, and assets, she was left to care for two toddler boys without any financial resources.
Determined to rebuild her life, she left her children in the care of her mother and relocated to Lagos with dreams of attending a fashion school.
Upon discovering she could not afford the tuition, she turned to surrogacy as a last resort to raise the funds.
Drawing from her past difficult pregnancies—including a near-death experience during her second pregnancy that required a blood transfusion—she negotiated for a higher fee of ₦2 million.
“I know what it means to be pregnant because I’ve been… I’m a mom of two. I know how I couldn’t sleep for nine months. I was vomiting, the body pain, the discomfort,” she recalled. “Myself, I was begging them [for ₦2 million]. I didn’t want to do all of that for 1.3 million.”
The agency refused to match her asking price, and she ultimately walked away from the deal.
“That Money is Nothing Now”: A Message of Hope
Concluding the video on a triumphant note, the woman expressed profound gratitude for her personal and financial growth since that dark period.
She noted that the ₦1.3 million she once begged for is now an amount she casually spends on a plane ticket or jewelry.
Her story has since resonated deeply with netizens, sparking conversations about the regulation of surrogacy in Nigeria and the protection of vulnerable women.
She ended her video with a heartfelt message directed at women facing similar hardships:
“If you’re a single mom, if you’re a divorcee, if you’re going through anything, please just know that life will get better for you. Just hang on. Hang on, my darlings.”
Watch the video here…
Lady shares how a surrogate company only offered to pay 1.3 million for carrying a baby. She told them to make it 2 million the said no. They’ll only be giving her 50k every month and 1.3 million at the end and she won’t be able to see her family throughout. 👀 pic.twitter.com/zfDuucDwwn
— TENIOLA (@Teeniiola) June 19, 2026