The Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, recently held a departmental symposium themed: “Surrogacy Among the Igbo of Southeast Nigeria: Motives and Procedures.”
The symposium which aimed at examining the concept of surrogacy among the Igbo people of Southeast Nigeria, its motive, procedure, cultural implications, ethical, and social dimension within Igbo society, was attended by members of the academia and students.
In his welcome address, the Head of Department, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, said the symposium which marks the 3rd in the department was part of its commitment to promoting intellectual discourse on contemporary issues affecting society and to create an avenue to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with surrogacy.
Dr. Okeke noted that advancements in reproductive technology have continued to reshape traditional perceptions of family, parenthood, and procreation, making discussions on surrogacy both timely and necessary.
He emphasized that while surrogacy offers hope to couples facing infertility challenges, it also raises important cultural, religious, legal, and ethical questions that deserve scholarly attention, and urged the participants to approach the subject with open minds and academic objectivity.
While speaking at the event, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Arua Oko Omaka, commended the Department for the annual symposium, describing the theme as relevant given the growing influence of science and technology on human reproduction and family life.
He noted that surrogacy among Igbos is a subject which attracts attention from scholars, religious leaders and traditional practitioners as the practice raises critical questions about ethics, culture, religion and social responsibility.
He further encouraged students and researchers to take advantage of the symposium to broaden their knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the discourse.
Delivering the symposium lecture, Dr. Ikechukwu Okwuosa examined the concept of surrogacy within the context of Igbo culture and contemporary reproductive practices. He defined surrogacy as an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child on behalf of another individual or couple, usually due to medical or fertility-related challenges.
The lecturer identified several motives behind the growing acceptance of surrogacy among the Igbo people, including infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, health conditions that make pregnancy risky, delayed marriages, and the increasing desire among couples to have biological children despite reproductive challenges.
Dr. Okwuosa explained that surrogacy procedures typically involve medical, legal, and social processes designed to ensure the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. He highlighted the distinction between traditional and gestational surrogacy while emphasizing the role of medical professionals in facilitating successful outcomes.
He further explored the cultural implications of surrogacy within Igbo society, noting that the strong cultural value attached to childbearing and family continuity often motivates couples to seek alternative reproductive options. However, he observed that surrogacy remains a subject of debate due to concerns about lineage, inheritance, kinship relationships, religious beliefs, and societal acceptance.
He maintained that the practice presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring careful regulation, ethical consideration, and public enlightenment, and called for greater awareness, legal frameworks, and interdisciplinary dialogue to address misconceptions surrounding surrogacy while protecting the dignity and rights of all stakeholders.
As society continues to grapple with the changing realities in family formation and reproductive health, the symposium reaffirmed the vital role of academia in shaping informed perspectives and generating knowledge driven solutions to emerging social issues.
