By Israel Jang 

The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission (PLASGEOC) has expressed concern over what it describes as a growing trend of young women selling their egg cells for money in Plateau State. The commission says the practice is prevalent among students and other young women and has launched awareness campaigns to discourage it.

The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission (PLASGEOC) says it has uncovered a growing trend of young women selling their ova (egg cells) in exchange for cash, describing the practice as exploitative and a form of gender-based violence.

Speaking during the Hausa radio programme Mutattauna on Unity FM in Jos on Tuesday, the commission's Head of Information Unit, Mrs. Nene Dung, said the agency had identified a fertility facility where women reportedly sell their egg cells.

According to her, some young women are motivated by financial incentives, receiving between N120,000 and N150,000 per donation. She alleged that some participants use the proceeds to purchase expensive phones and support their lifestyles.

Mrs. Dung stated that fertility patients seeking children are charged significantly higher fees by such facilities, while donors receive comparatively smaller payments for their egg cells.

The commission said it has begun sensitisation campaigns in communities and tertiary institutions to educate young women on what it considers the dangers associated with the practice.

According to the commission, engagements have already been held with authorities at the Polytechnic Barkin Ladi, College of Education Gindiri, and the University of Education Pankshin. The agency also plans to meet with the leadership of the University of Jos on the issue.

Mrs. Dung maintained that the trend is not limited to local communities but is increasingly visible within educational institutions across the state.

She further called on parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities and movements of their children, linking inadequate parental supervision to rising cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The commission warned that individuals found violating relevant laws would face appropriate consequences.

While the commission has raised concerns about the practice, it did not provide data on the number of women involved, the identity of the fertility facility, or documented evidence of health complications linked to the reported egg cell transactions.