Kate Henshaw Urges Nigeria to Implement Stricter Laws on Surrogacy, Warns Against Exploiting Vulnerable Women

Veteran Nollywood actress and activist Kate Henshaw has raised strong concerns over the ethical and legal implications of surrogacy in Nigeria, calling for comprehensive legislation to protect surrogates from exploitation, especially financially vulnerable women.

In a heartfelt interview on News Central, Henshaw emphasized that surrogacy, while offering hope to childless couples, is often conducted under questionable conditions due to Nigeria’s lack of clear legal frameworks.

🔍 Key Quotes from Kate Henshaw:

“Surrogacy is a means to exploit people who are not financially capable… What will make you want to look after them? Are you bound under any laws or legal framework?”

“There’s just so much around it. Surrogacy is a process of giving hope... It shouldn’t be something to be done lightly.”

“I hope Nigeria rises… I hope we have laws that will work and not be suggestions.”

⚖️ A Call for Urgent Reform

Henshaw’s concern touches a raw nerve in Nigeria’s reproductive health landscape. With surrogacy gaining popularity among wealthy families, celebrities, and even abroad-bound couples, the absence of enforceable laws leaves surrogates—many of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—exposed to physical, emotional, and financial risks.

She called attention to the mental and hormonal toll pregnancy takes on women, stressing that it's not just a transaction — it's a life-altering journey that deserves dignity, care, and legal protection.

💬 Public Opinion

Her remarks have sparked conversations online:

🗣️ “Kate is right. Too many women are being used and discarded after surrogacy. We need laws now!” – @Justice4Women
💔 “People forget that these surrogates are human too, not just baby carriers.” – @MothersMatterNG
💼 “Nigerian lawmakers need to wake up and protect all citizens—not just the rich.” – @LegalAidNG

✍🏽 Opinion – Surrogacy With a Soul

While surrogacy offers a bridge to parenthood for many, it must not be allowed to become a form of commodified motherhood. Henshaw's perspective is a reminder that women’s bodies are not rental services, and any society that fails to uphold the dignity of surrogates undermines the very essence of motherhood and human rights.

It’s high time Nigeria crafted and enforced laws that protect both intended parents and surrogates, with ethical oversight, medical support, and postnatal care included as non-negotiables. If not, we risk creating a shadow industry of wombs-for-hire, stripped of compassion and justice.

📢 Final Thought

Kate Henshaw isn’t just raising a concern—she’s raising a red flag. As surrogacy grows in Nigeria, so must our conscience and commitment to fairness. Let’s not wait for a scandal before we act.

🔖 Surrogacy is not just about creating life—it’s about respecting the lives involved.

#SurrogacyRights #NigerianWomen #KateHenshawSpeaks #ReproductiveJustice #NASSDoTheNeedful #WomensHealthMatters #LegalProtectionNow