CATHOLIC BISHOPS URGE REGULATION OF IVF CLINICS, ADDRESS EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN NIGERIA. (PHOTO).

 Catholic Bishops Urge Regulation of IVF Clinics, Address Education and Environmental Concerns in Nigeria

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on the Federal Government to regulate fertility clinics offering In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments, citing widespread abuse and ethical concerns. The appeal was made during the opening session of the CBCN’s second 2025 plenary at the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene in Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State, on Sunday.

In his address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji outlined four critical issues: the decline in educational standards, the misuse of IVF, environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, and the need for ecological education. He expressed alarm over the proliferation of unregulated fertility clinics, many operated by unqualified practitioners, posing risks of financial exploitation, medical complications, infertility, and even death. “This situation urgently calls for government regulation and ethical guidelines,” Ugorji stated.

The Archbishop also condemned the commodification of human embryos through IVF, highlighting the Church’s stance that such practices violate the dignity and right to life of embryos. He noted with concern that university students are selling their eggs and sperm to fertility clinics for profit, urging Catholics to adhere to the Church’s teachings against IVF due to its separation of the marital act’s unitive and procreative aspects.

On education, Ugorji criticized “miracle examination centers” that facilitate malpractice in WAEC and NECO exams, undermining Nigeria’s education system. He urged dioceses and religious congregations to align their schools with the Federal Government’s new national minimum standards for non-state schools to address these challenges.

The CBCN also addressed environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by oil spills, gas flaring, and mining. Ugorji called for government-led clean-ups, rehabilitation of affected communities, and intensive ecological education to mitigate the region’s environmental crisis.

In his homily, Bishop Camillus Umo of Ikot Ekpene Diocese emphasized unity across cultural divides to resolve conflicts and promote harmony in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, commended faith leaders for their role in fostering peace and discouraging extremism. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who chaired the event, praised the Catholic Church’s contributions to education and healthcare, noting its collaboration with the government, particularly through initiatives like the Student Loan Act.

Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umo Eno lauded the Catholic Church as the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in education, healthcare, and social support. He urged the Church to maintain unity for societal development, reinforcing its commitment to humanitarian service.

The plenary highlighted the Catholic Church’s call for urgent reforms in education, healthcare, and environmental policies, underscoring its pivotal role in Nigeria’s social and moral landscape.