History and Future of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Nigeria
By Chinedu Akpa. B. Pharm. Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by: Azuka Ezeike, MB.BS, FWACS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), FMCOG, MSc. (Public Health).
November 19, 2025
Cartoon illustration of an African mother carrying a baby against a captioned background with a map of Nigeria, microscope and IVF laboratory items, symbolising the IVF journey in Nigeria. Image was AI generated by ChatGPT. Click to enlarge.
In Africa, having a child can profoundly transform both the way you are perceived and the way society treats you. From how you are treated in the marketplace, to how your peers relate to you in social functions—everyone seems to be united around one belief; that a child or children are a good omen, and a key to unlock success. And when you don't have one, you are looked upon like an outcast.
For some couples, the journey to parenthood is usually laced with tears, as some are usually ridiculed by relatives and friends for years before they finally have their own child. For such individuals, maybe their hope of having a child could have been completely dashed had IVF not existed.
In Nigeria and many African countries, women want to be able to deliver their own children through the natural means (vagina delivery). This thought has led many women to outrightly reject cesarean sections because they feel it makes them less of a woman. For people with such a mindset, openly embracing the possibility of having children without sexual intercourse would be nothing short of revolutionary, hence the resistance that IVF faced in its formative years in Nigeria.
The history of IVF in Nigeria has been fraught with so many challenges, with many of these firmly rooted in the culture and beliefs of the people just like many other technological breakthroughs not just in medicine but in other areas of life.
In this article, you will discover how this medical breakthrough started in Nigeria, the key players over the years, the challenges it has faced, and what lies ahead.
Cartoon illustration of the stages of IVF. Image credit: Click on image to enlarge.
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a type of fertility treatment in which eggs are fertilised with sperm, either your own or from a donor, in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then placed in your womb or in the womb of a surrogate, to achieve a successful pregnancy. It is the most effective fertility treatment plan and one of several methods of assisted reproductive technology (ART) [1]
IVF falls under the umbrella term called Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) that also involves fertilisation procedures like:
The first baby born through the use of IVF was Louise Brown in 1978 in the United Kingdom. [2] This feat was achieved by Dr. Robert Edwards and Dr. Patrick Steptoe when they performed IVF on a 36-year-old woman with tubal infertility. Tubal infertility is a type of female infertility that occurs when a problem with the fallopian tube prevents the egg and sperm from meeting or a fertilised egg from reaching the uterus for implantation.
This procedure quickly spread from the United Kingdom to other parts of the world, with live births after IVF reported in the following countries: [3]
The early days of IVF witnessed considerable pushback from renowned physicians based on ethical reasons. One of such doctors who raised a dissenting voice against the procedure was an American named Vandeville, during the Ninth World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics held in Tokyo in 1979. [2]
His reported expressed reasons for being against IVF were:
The story of IVF in Nigeria cannot be told without mentioning the trailblazers and key actors in the industry.
Dr. Oladapo Ashiru is recognised as one of the pioneers in the field, having worked with other health experts including Dr. Osato Giwa Osagie, to successfully achieve the first IVF conception in Nigeria.
Other key players are Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, who established Nordica Fertility Center in 2003, in Lagos. It is affiliated with Nordica International, Denmark. Another prominent figure in this field is Dr. Joseph Ikechebelu who led a team of specialists to deliver the first IVF baby in Anambra state, Nigeria in 2011. [4]
It took 11 years from the first global human success story of IVF before it was replicated in Nigeria.
The journey to the first success story of IVF in Nigeria started in 1983 when Dr. Oladapo Ashiru and Dr. Akinwunmi. Osibogun working at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria, started basic fertility research in laboratory animals. By 1989, they had succeeded in impregnating rats using IVF.
Portrait of. Dr. Oladapo Ashiru, one of the pioneering IVF doctors in Nigeria; posing with a smile in a professional attire.
This was the head start they needed to replicate the same procedure in humans. Dr Ashiru subsequently collaborated clinically on IVF procedures in humans with Dr. Osato Giwa-Osagie, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the same college and Consultant at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. [5, 6] In the same year (1989), baby Olushina, a boy, was born from their pioneering work as the first live baby in Nigeria conceived through the use of IVF, although his birth occurred abroad and not in Nigeria. [4]
Dr. Osato Giwa-Osagie, one of the pioneering IVF doctors in Nigeria, wearing an academic gown and cap, smiling for a formal portrait
Dr. Joseph Ikechebelu, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctor at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, wearing an academic gown and cap, apparently giving a speech
Nigeria is a deeply religious country with most practising either Christianity or Islam. This and many other factors played a huge role in how IVF was perceived among people in its early days. Let's now take a broader look at some of these challenges:
There are so many schools of thought regarding the morality of IVF. The idea of embryos developing outside the human body is seen as an effort to ‘play God'.
For example, the Roman Catholics and some non-Catholic denominations, and the Sunni Muslims are opposed to any form of birth outside the one produced through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. [4] But most Pentecostal members are in support of IVF, suggesting a diversity among the Christian faithful. [7]
Some believe that it is immoral to cherry-pick the sex of a child, which is possible during preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), one of the procedures that is used in IVF to check for genetic abnormalities before embryos are transferred to the uterus (womb). The danger they say, lies in the fact that it would disrupt the natural balance of the two sexes over time, especially in cultures where the male child is favoured. [7]
Many African societies view the family as a continuum that connects the living to their ancestors and future generations. The family is a bloodline that must be kept pure, and each generation must ensure to pass it on to the next without interruption. Many, therefore, fear that the introduction of IVF, especially when it involves donor cells, would ultimately disrupt the family tree and stain the bloodline. [8]
Laboratories, which are usually the bedrock of research, are usually not well equipped in Nigeria in most cases up to Western standards. Furthermore, inadequate medical facilities and a shortage of specialised care centres have continued to undermine IVF services in Nigeria.
When IVF took off in Nigeria, it had just a handful of health professionals with necessary skills like Dr. Ashiru and Giwa-Osagie, who were the pioneers. This posed a big challenge considering the high population of the country.
Nigeria is one of the top 5 countries in Africa with the highest number of IVF centres. [8] The growth and spread of IVF centres, especially in major cities in the country, can be attributed to the increase in education and awareness about the procedure. This is in addition to the success stories of IVF procedures around the country. Some clinics in Lagos, Nigeria, often display the pictures of success stories in their facility as a way to encourage potential clients.
Additionally, the emergence of private sector-led clinics has provided couples with more options, thereby reducing their waiting time in government hospitals across the country. These private clinics often deploy modern IVF techniques such as:
These modern techniques, which are rapidly being adopted by many of the private clinics, helped in creating a higher success rate and improved confidence in IVF. Other benefits of adopting these modern techniques and how they have helped the growth of IVF in Nigeria include:
There is no doubt that people still stigmatize couples who deploy IVF to have children. That being said, it is also noteworthy to mention that the level of discrimination against IVF procedure has witnessed a massive decline in the last decade or so. This is evident in the increasing number of IVF clinics available around the country, coupled with increased awareness about the procedure as well as the number of successful stories.
The success of IVF in Nigeria cannot be mentioned without stating the role that government hospitals played in its early days. After all, the pioneering doctors (Ashiru and Giwa-Osagie) achieved their success at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, - both Federal Government of Nigeria owned facilities.
However, the success story of IVF in Nigeria has also been facilitated by many private fertility clinics which are at the forefront of this procedure. Some notable ones are:
In year 2000: The Bridge Clinic was the first private fertility clinic in Nigeria to report the birth of the first set of babies using the ICSI IVF technique .[8]
ICSI is a specialised IVF procedure in which a single sperm is directly injected into an egg, rather than simply mixing the sperm and eggs and hoping for fertilisation to occur. The procedure is usually recommended when there are issues of male infertility, such as low sperm count. This achievement was followed by the facility becoming the first in West Africa to receive the prestigious ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification from TUV Austria. [9]
In year 2015: Another notable milestone of IVF in Nigeria was recorded when Tairat Tunrayo Akorode delivered the first triplet babies in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital through IVF. [10] This achievement also highlighted the ingenuity and advancement of Nigerian doctors in this field.
In year 2020: The country witnessed yet another multiple birth through the use of IVF, this time it was a twin. [11] This breakthrough was recorded at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital when a 68 year old woman gave birth to twins. But this didn't come without its challenges as the woman had previously failed on three other occasions with IVF before finally making a breakthrough. [12]
These key milestones and success stories, which cut across different societal cadres, have helped to reduce stigmatisation and further cement the future of IVF in Nigeria as a viable means of reproduction.
Despite the immense success that has been recorded with the use of IVF in Nigeria, there are still gaps that need to be filled if the country wishes to meet up with its counterparts in developed countries. Some of these gaps include:
Infertility affects an estimated 25% of Nigerian couples, [12] yet the high cost of IVF remains a major barrier. Many couples in need of the service simply cannot afford the out-of-pocket expenses associated with fertility treatments. To bridge this gap, the Nigerian government could facilitate the creation of a special health fund to be managed by private financial institutions and accessible to interested parties to fund their personal health needs at rates that are more favourable than general commercial loans.
Unlike the UK, where there are legal bindings on those involved in IVF, in Nigeria, it seems to be a free for all as there are no laws regulating this practice as at today. This leaves room for the commercialisation and exploitation of unsuspecting individuals. [5] A bill to legalise the practice of IVF and by extension ART can help the country achieve the following:
The use of Artificial Intelligence has witnessed a massive growth (AI) in the healthcare industry. Thus far, AI has been able to help physicians to analyse scans, detect diseases early, monitor the heart, predict disease risks, and analyse patient data.
Currently, the success rate of IVF is about 30% [13], which is small when compared to the financial and emotional investment that goes into each cycle of the procedure. AI can be deployed to improve on this, and support further advancements in the following areas:
One of the problems encountered in gamete (egg and sperm) selection is the high degree of variation among different clinical embryologists because the process is not fully automated. The use of AI can play a huge role in this aspect of IVF because it would remove the subjectivity of human intervention in the decision-making process, and assess the quality of gametes factually.
The same problem of variation is faced with embryo selection, just like in gamete selection, because of human interventions. AI can fully automate this process and remove the subjectivity that is often characteristic of humans in this procedure.
AI can help predict the best timing for embryo transfer and monitor early pregnancy progress, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
More research would however be needed before AI can be deployed to support improvements in IVF services in Nigeria.
The history of IVF in Nigeria is a remarkable story of resilience, innovation, and gradual societal acceptance. From overcoming cultural and religious resistance to achieving groundbreaking milestones like multiple births and successful IVF in older women, Nigeria has made significant strides in the field of assisted reproduction. The increasing number of fertility clinics, coupled with modern techniques and rising awareness, has offered hope to countless couples battling infertility. However, for IVF to reach its full potential in Nigeria, key challenges such as affordability, regulatory gaps, and ethical oversight must be addressed. By establishing clear legal frameworks, promoting equitable access, and embracing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Nigeria can further enhance the success and integrity of IVF, ultimately transforming the reproductive health landscape for generations to come.
1. Mayo Clinic. In Vitro Fertilization [Internet] September 1, 2023. [Cited June 22, 2025]. Available from here.
2. Suzuki M. In vitro fertilization in Japan - early days of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer and future prospects for assisted reproductive technology. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2014;90(5):184-201. doi: 10.2183/pjab.90.184. Available from here.
3. Cohen J, Trounson A, Dawson K, Jones H, Hazekamp J, Nygren KG, Hamberger L. The early days of IVF outside the UK. Hum Reprod Update. 2005 Sep-Oct;11(5):439-59. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmi016. Available from here.
4. Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Prof Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu [Internet.n.d.] Cited July 4, 2025. Available from here.
5. Mrabure KO. In vitro fertilization (IVF – Test tube baby): The need for a legal framework in Nigeria. Unilag Law Review. 2018; 2(1) 106-117. Available from here.
6. ThisDay. Frank Giwa-Osagie: I Feel Like a 55-year-old Though I am 70 [Internet] 2016 April 29. [Cited July 4, 2025]. Available from here.
7. Igbolekwu CO, Mkperedem AA, Arisukwu OC, Uwadinma-Idemudia E, Iwuh J, Olawale AA. Religious and cultural interpretations of artificial insemination in South-West Nigeria. AJOG Glob Rep. 2022 Sep 28;3(2):100113. doi: 10.1016/j.xagr.2022.100113. Available from here.
8. Ombelet W, Onofre J. IVF in Africa: What is it all about? Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2019 Oct. 3;11(1):65-76. Available from here.
9. The Guardian. The Evolution of Fertility Centers in Nigeria. [Internet] March 18, 2024. [Cited June 23, 2025]. Available from here.
10. The Guardian. UITH Delivers First Triplets Through IVF. [Internet] October 17, 2015. [Cited June 23, 2025]. Available from here.
11. CNN World. Nigerian Woman, 68, Gives Birth to Twins After Four IVF Attempts. [Internet] Updated April 22, 2020. [Cited June 23, 2025]. Available from here.
12. Punch Newspaper (Nigeria). Why Infertility Rate Rising Drastically-Gynaecologist. [Internet] March 3, 2023. [Cited June 23, 2025]. Available from here.
13. Chow DJX, Wijesinghe P, Dholakia K, Dunning KR. Does artificial intelligence have a role in the IVF clinic? Reprod Fertil. 2021 Aug 23;2(3):C29-C34. doi: 10.1530/RAF-21-0043. Available from here
Published: November 19, 2025
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