Article written by former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Read below...
Tens of thousands of surrogate children are born each year in the Americas and even more in Europe. Anyone who has ever experienced childlessness either directly or indirectly through a relative, extended family or friend is likely to appreciate the role surrogate mothers play in bringing succor to such families. To ostracize them and tag them 'Baby Factories' is most unfortunate indeed.
Surrogate motherhood dates back to biblical times. Hagar was a surrogate mother to Sarah (see Genesis 16:1-2). Bilhah was a surrogate mother to Rachel (see Genesis 30:4). Most importantly, Mary was a surrogate mother to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She carried The Almighty Father's child for Him after being immaculately conceived by The Holy Ghost. Joseph, her husband, was not the biological father of our Lord and Saviour. "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."-Matthew 1:20. Are we going to criminalize what the Almighty God and the Patriarchs did?
This is the 21st Century, not the 12th Century. If women freely elect to be surrogate mothers, the government should not stigmatize them! What Nigeria should do is to effectively regulate these establishments to ensure that:
a. These women are there willingly, and
b. The babies go to good homes.
If government wants to show its exuberance, it should direct its law enforcement officials to go after real criminals, such as men who make babies with women and fail to cater for them. That is what civilized societies do! In the West, dead beat dads are chased after by the state and made to pay child support. But to criminalize what should be seen as a mutually beneficial venture is a waste of effort.
No one is standing up to speak for these unfortunate and innocent women whose only crime is that they are powerless, so I will raise my voice on their behalf. They are doing nothing wrong if all they are doing is having babies for those who cannot have them.
If on the other hand it is demonstrated that they are doing is more than this (such as providing kids to ritualists and occultists), then I will not support it, but that does not seem to be the case and until it is proven otherwise, these women will have an advocate in me.
Reno Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California and the host of Transformations with Reno Omokri
I have been appalled reading about the raids on so called 'Baby Factories' in the media lately. These raids are a throwback to the Salem Witch Trials and I cannot believe that in Nigeria of the 21st Century we are stigmatizing what is an acceptable world wide culture that has brought hope to childless couples all over the world.
For the avoidance of doubt, these women are surrogate mothers who have children for childless couples. Every civilized nation accepts and promotes this practice as a humane option for childless couples.
The main reason many childless couples prefer a surrogate mother is because they want to know about the family history and genetics of the mother of their unborn child.
In many cases, when you adopt a child without knowing who the parents are and there arises a need in future for a blood transfusion or an organ donor, many adoptive parents get stuck. Other medical issues like cancer, or behavioral issues like autism and ADD/ADHD are better diagnosed and treated if you have family history, which is not possible with anonymous adoptions. So, the idea of surrogate motherhood fills this gap.
In Europe and the Americas as well as in Asia, surrogate mothers are well sought after and advertisements are placed in bus stations, newspapers, on the underground as well as on the Internet seeking out such women. I have included one such advert in this piece.
The main reason many childless couples prefer a surrogate mother is because they want to know about the family history and genetics of the mother of their unborn child.
In many cases, when you adopt a child without knowing who the parents are and there arises a need in future for a blood transfusion or an organ donor, many adoptive parents get stuck. Other medical issues like cancer, or behavioral issues like autism and ADD/ADHD are better diagnosed and treated if you have family history, which is not possible with anonymous adoptions. So, the idea of surrogate motherhood fills this gap.
In Europe and the Americas as well as in Asia, surrogate mothers are well sought after and advertisements are placed in bus stations, newspapers, on the underground as well as on the Internet seeking out such women. I have included one such advert in this piece.
Surrogate motherhood dates back to biblical times. Hagar was a surrogate mother to Sarah (see Genesis 16:1-2). Bilhah was a surrogate mother to Rachel (see Genesis 30:4). Most importantly, Mary was a surrogate mother to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She carried The Almighty Father's child for Him after being immaculately conceived by The Holy Ghost. Joseph, her husband, was not the biological father of our Lord and Saviour. "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."-Matthew 1:20. Are we going to criminalize what the Almighty God and the Patriarchs did?
This is the 21st Century, not the 12th Century. If women freely elect to be surrogate mothers, the government should not stigmatize them! What Nigeria should do is to effectively regulate these establishments to ensure that:
a. These women are there willingly, and
b. The babies go to good homes.
If government wants to show its exuberance, it should direct its law enforcement officials to go after real criminals, such as men who make babies with women and fail to cater for them. That is what civilized societies do! In the West, dead beat dads are chased after by the state and made to pay child support. But to criminalize what should be seen as a mutually beneficial venture is a waste of effort.
No one is standing up to speak for these unfortunate and innocent women whose only crime is that they are powerless, so I will raise my voice on their behalf. They are doing nothing wrong if all they are doing is having babies for those who cannot have them.
If on the other hand it is demonstrated that they are doing is more than this (such as providing kids to ritualists and occultists), then I will not support it, but that does not seem to be the case and until it is proven otherwise, these women will have an advocate in me.
Reno Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California and the host of Transformations with Reno Omokri
68 comments:
I quite agree with you reno, well said
These people do this things illegally, That's why it's baby factory.
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This baby factories been raided do you know most of them are forced to get pregnant and deliver? Do you also know if i was legal,then it will be registered legally and the won't run away and the would treat these women right and pay them well for their babies?
Mr reno omokiri.point taken. But my question is y arent this factories registered, y the secrecy, most of this girls are forced into this, this girls arent given proper healthcare, When u were in government y didnt u do something abt this bow u are sending a write up from another country and why are not all this babies accounted for no records to trace dem later un life...some are sold to ritualist. So please ur argument for now dosent hold water
Don't mind backward archaic Nigerians! Anyone's that castigate them should taste childlessness a bit to know it's not an easy road! Rubbish! Instead of a girl to dump or kill her baby, she should sell it to a wealthy couple n d child would live a good life!!! She can use d money n live a better life! If I was a woman, I wud gladly be a surrogate for free!
Don't mind backward archaic Nigerians! Anyone's that castigate them should taste childlessness a bit to know it's not an easy road! Rubbish! Instead of a girl to dump or kill her baby, she should sell it to a wealthy couple n d child would live a good life!!! She can use d money n live a better life! If I was a woman, I wud gladly be a surrogate for free!
I have always believed that there is a way we can make possitive use of these factories.
This shows how far away you're from an ordinary Nigerian. What's going on in our country is not surrogacy. Rather girls are being encouraged to get pregnant, give birth, and sell their babies. It's a huge market and if nothing is done a lot girls will continue to be exploited in this way, and equally it's a horrible type of human trade.
I understand where she is coming from,however she needs to understand that most of the 'baby factories' in Nigeria operate solely on a selfish interest. The surrogate moms are not well taken care of,some are deceived and whisked off from their villages and homes for a promised stipend as reward,they are kept in shabby conditions that are not conducive for their wellbeing and that of the innocent unborn babies. Some of the babies born are used for rituals and other illegal activities,and I'm pretty darn sure there are no accurate medical checkups done on the moms,no proper antenatal care,no routine ultrasounds or chromosome checks..nothing! They most likely give birth in the most absurd conditions imaginable,and if they have any post natal complications,they are most likely to be left helpless,and in worse case scenarios,die or lose their womb due to serious complications. So if indeed,they have the wellbeing of the child in mind,things should be done in a much more organised and reasonable manner. Which is no small feat,as I'm pretty sure it would cost a reasonable amount of money,organisation and planning..with professionals involved of course. If indeed the parents involved in this have good intentions,they should do things the right way rather than patronise the illegal ones who only cause much more harm than good.
True! All truee
Hmmnnn
Stop twisting the words in the bible, Abraham slept with Hagai, so as Jacob who slept with Rachel's maid servant. it is as clear as day, dunno why you feel reshaping the meaning will make u sleep well. You are 1 for talk without action, try it then.
What's dis man saying. These women are not surrogate mothers. They are pregnant women selling their unborn kids to childless couples. People just trying to distort the truth. It's a crime everywhere in the world to sell your child. Anyone willing to go for adoption would av to go thru the proper channels and not the back door. For a person to commercialialize this is downright shameful. I'm not surprised most of these factories are in the east. My ibo brothers and sisters, what won't you do for money?
baby factories are illegal, syds sef only God knws wuh dey do with does babies, surrogate is legal nd atleast we hv an idea whr d baby is goin too....nt d same at all
Mr Man we know the difference biko. Linda take note!
Hmmmm! I don't n knw wat to say! So am jst gonna chill n read comments
Pls note that there is a difference between surrogate mum and baby factory.... get ur facts straight
I agree 100%. Provided d kids are not being used for rituals.
Plus some of them actually make the babies and sell them to ritualists
I agree 100%. Provided d kids are not being used for rituals.
The fact is that many of those girls are not there willingly. Some are too young to be allowed to befome surrogates even if they consent to it.
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Wow....haven't read an article so true this week. But wait a minute, is this the Reno Omokri that I know or another Reno?
#TeamBlessed#
God dammit u are a fool,u see these SS SE ppl,surrogate mother is inseminated with the zygote(sperm and egg after merging) and is developed 9 months in the SURROGATE mothers womb,and u worked for ebele,no wonder we were in darkness,given an excuse for baby factories that sell babies to ritualist and cultist Ndi igbo everything na bizness,na una open una mouth insult everybody when una na know anything,park well jare
Some people need to be lectured thoroughly
They are not nau
Nice! I am in support of surrogacy.
Finally someone speak with knowledge. When I was in secondary school a friend got pregnant and she went to one of these places. She was well taken care of and when she birthed the child she left.
It should be regulated, they should register with the state but it should not be stopped.
Hmmmm
Good! This is a good one. However, Some of those child are sold to ritualist that's the problem.
You talk too much.
Do you know the meaning of surrogate?
Do you know if those baby factories are legal?
All I see is ranting.
Surrogacy is different, Mr Reno, the children born in question will be biliogically urs cos the sperm /egg belong to the intending parents most times, for as what we see here in Nigeria are children getting pregnant just to sell their children to wealthy people. If they had the money, they won't sell their kids. The question of willingness is over rated here,they are not willing,they are desperate.
Reno, I can't believe you are too daft to understand that surrogacy isn't the reason behind the arrest but the lack of a formal process that ends up protecting the lives of not only the children but the mothers. People like you are reason why Africa remains in the dark.
The arrests & humiliation started while GEJ was still in power.I never heard you write or say anything.The police now seem to go for soft target arrests to improve their crime busting rate.They should go after child kidnappers,ritualistic,armed robbers,Kidnappers & the likes.All these unnecessary shootings of vehicle drivers & Obada riders or death of suspects in custody cannot be the way to fight crime.We can do so much better if the police can start using their brains instead of Brute force.
The arrests & humiliation started while GEJ was still in power.I never heard you write or say anything.The police now seem to go for soft target arrests to improve their crime busting rate.They should go after child kidnappers,ritualistic,armed robbers,Kidnappers & the likes.All these unnecessary shootings of vehicle drivers & Obada riders or death of suspects in custody cannot be the way to fight crime.We can do so much better if the police can start using their brains instead of Brute force.
D baby factories in Nigeria are far from wat surrogates are. With surrogates, dey carry ur baby (ur eggs n ur partner's sperm or donor sperm). Not ppl kept somewhere 2 get pregnant 4 d purpose of their babies being sold.
Hmmmm, if they r wat u call it then let them b bold abt it n mk it legal. I bliv its more dan dt. Most women dt r unable to bear children lie to their spouse n claim they r pregnant pumping their tummies n buying these babies from baby factories. Also ritualists also patronise them. We don't v any body that monitors such babies to chk on dem after they r bought so it shd b discouraged till it s legal. U don't sound lyk a Nigerian sef after all these shits happening here. This s my opinion doh...
I bless God for your life sir ,you have spoken well and my mind also .Nigerians don't really care about what people go through the don't really know what this families are going through, may God help us that country is so back
Ignorant. Surrogate mothers are not same as baby factories
I dont comment on blogs but this really moved me. Well said! I So much agree with you my brother
Wow at last We hv educated ppl inNigeria,we shld relennt,lets keep pushin dis until it's accepted
Not when they are selling the babies for money
hmm!! OK o
ckjacob.blogspot.com
Reno do you know kids born in babe factory are used for ritual,do you know half of the pregnant girls are under 14?. I believe you but the first two issues need to be dealt with.
All babes adopted will be accounted till they are 21years.
I believe it should be legalized .Girls over 18years old can take part.Goverment will need to regulated it as a group or Union. - Sia.
I never thought i'd say this but with "Men of God" like this around GEJ, he was doomed to fail. Let's first leave the religious question out of this article and face the legal aspect. The baby factories that have been clamped down on so far, have proven to be places where impressionable minds are exploited. 1. The "baby mamas" are young underage girls below the age of sexual consent down south 2. The girls are made to have sex with the same set of men/sperm donors. In my little understanding of surrogacy, I believe the husband or a preferred donor is the one who donates the sperm. 3. The operators of the so-called baby factories do not maintain records or carry out background checks on the persons they "sell" the babies to. Rather they just handover to whoever comes with a good price thereby exposing the babies to risks such as rituals, bad parents, nefarious activities. 4. What is the level of willingness and understanding of the "baby mamas" as to what they are about to engage in? Take note Mr Omokri that most of the ladies are largely underage and are been exploited. In legal surrogacy, there is registration, regulation, and moderation of activities. Not some wanton baby production and merchandising as is the case with most of these so-called baby factories. Besides, we have fertility clinics in Nigeria that run this surrogacy programmes and ensure that all necessary checks are carried out. That is encouraged not some reckless abandon rape spree of young impressionable minds as you tend to want to defend and uphold
He is right! I was just thinking same
He's right but the African mentality is too weak to differentiate btw d two.....
My love for this man just sky rocketed beyond the zenith of the earth.........he couldn't have said it any better, most times this girls are sent to such home by rich ppl with child issues, but stupid Nigerians term them baby factories....a man with wisdom just spoke.......Henry Eze
Hmmmmm....well said.
unwanted pregnancy? How to pull through.
Future impossible dream.....Nigerians always find a way to ruin a good thing.....surrogacy can never thrive hear...Nigerians r too evil minded and self righteous to do this......but on another note....isn't it fornication/aldultery???....cos if u want to go through d artificial insemination way, only d rich wld have kids.......how many can afford it?
Mis-educationn at its finest! Mr Omokri, is business dat bad dat this is ur next avenue for attention? I don't even know where 2 begin with ur article-if something is vogue is Europe+USA, den it must be entrenched here abi?-kindly extend an olive branch 2 Gay marriage and Fire arms possession. Surrogacy still has moral,ethical and legal issues in dese places. wat U are suggesting is dat we institutionalise an industry dat exploits young females without an understanding of the choices dey are making, get dem pregnant out of wedlock and leave deir care and safety 2 people of un ascertained xter. Clap 4 urself Sir-A1!
He has a point!
Spot on!!!
What is this mumu saying? Surrogate wetin? Does it look like all those caught in the Baby factories so far are well equipped for such? This man prolly patronize them to get babies for rituals or one of his dealers has been caught and he's trying to buy freedom for the criminals
Mr Reno! What is being practised in baby factories is not the same as surrogacy. Surrogacy involves someone carrying baby for another woman using her eggs and sperm of her husband(layman's definition). I guess what you are trying to advocate is Adoption, which is also different from baby factories, why shld a girl be paid to get pregnant and d baby(ies) sold to unknown couple. Adoption has legal procedure, and babies found in motherless babies' home got there due to some reasons(death of mother, abandoned babies) not girls intentionally getting preggie and selling babies. Get ur facts straight Mr Reno!
Cause u can't read lol. If u u knewbjow to, ull know what a surrogacy is.
Wow! True talk though it depends on personal choice and decision which to really go for.
@adaobi,you need to read with your brain,try to make sense of what's written,read in
-between lines and don't just make comments because you want to be heard.
Surrogacy is different from baby factory.
For Surrogacy, Intending parents select the surrogate mother by interviewing /meeting interested surrogates. If both parties agree, IVF is done with the surrogate mother as the recipient of the embryo and will carry the pregnancy for the couple. The baby is handed over to the couple once born and any outstanding fee is paid to the surrogate mother.
That being said, I am of the opinion that so called baby factories be regulated and not scrapped. It's a succor to young pregnant girls who have nowhere to go after been disowned or thrown out of their homes by family members who feel they have brought nothing but shame.
Is that why you wil insult all SS. And SE? Who does more evil than you SW? Park your shitty ass and gerarahere
Gbam!!! Ur head de there abeg.
What is this imbecile saying? Into the zoo my friend. Goat. Speaking through your anus.
Thank you for your on point comment, Omokri needs to get the meaning of surrogate mother first before waggling his tongue.
A surrogate mother is a woman who agrees to carry someone else's baby. She becomes pregnant using some form of assisted reproductive technology, frequently IVF. The surrogate mother carries the baby to term and gives birth, and the baby is released from the hospital to its intended parents.
You correctly defined surrogate however, there is sense in what Reno is saying. We should put a regulation in place to make it work.
1. Ensure the girls are not compelled to have children
2. Ensure adequate maternal care for the girls
3. Do a background check on the adoptive parents.
4. Follow up on those families to ensure the children are safe.
Criminalising 'baby factorism' will encourage the secrecy and backdoor transactions.
The children could be endangered and the biological mum shut out of the child's life permanently .
#myopinion
They still fill a need in the society hence why it is rising so it should be regularised.
Mr. Wendell Simlin.Thought you will stick to the name after leaving office?
I share an opinion that it will be difficult to manage surrogate because we are complex people and there will efforts to abuse it if adopted like in other societies. we must accept our uniqueness and not pretend about it
Oga Reno in developed and civilized parts of the world where surrogacy is being practiced, its not done by young, innocent girls in their teens who know little or nothing about child birth. its being done by female adults who have either had kids before or matured enough to raise one. Pls get your facts right.
Surrogate motherhood is when a woman usually referred to a s a
surrogate mother decides to rent her womb to a client usually
referred to as the intended parents. This arrangement is usually
carried out by a third party normally referred to as the surrogacy
agency or surrogate agent. The surrogate mother then undergoes a
procedure commonly known as IVF in which material is collected
from the intended parents or sometimes with a a donor egg or sperm
which forms an embryo and this embryo is transplanted into the
surrogate mother.
The surrogate mother has no genetical ties with the unborn child,
she is just a carrier. A contract is prepared between the
surrogate and the intended parent stipulating how much she is
going to be paid including her welfare package.
The surrogate mother delivers the baby which is then handed over
to the intended parents. If you need the services of a reputable
surrogacy agency in Nigeria visit Surrogate Motherhood Nigeria
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