Adoption is taking another’s child legally and bringing it up as one’s own. For a long time, the process of adoption has been obscure and almost made obsolete. This is because the concept is not yet fully accepted in the African clime and the legality has many grey areas.
However for residents of Lagos state (in and outside Nigeria), below are the processes involved in adopting a child legally.
Procedure for local adoption and fostering of Nigerians resident in Lagos state:
1. Submission of application letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Block 18, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja
2. Interview with Director Social Welfare/Officers from Adoption/Fostering unit on appointed date
3. Mandatory Pre-counselling sessions on appointed date
4. Complete registration forms, obtaining list of requirement and applicant documentation
5. Administrative processing/screening/conducting of compulsory home assessment by the adoption unit
6. Payment of NGN 80, 000 administrative fees
7. Panel Session with applicants
8. Issuance of approval letter with attachment of list of registered orphanages for matching of child/children
9. Post-counselling (on proper parenting) on appointed date
10. Release of child/children from orphanages/family court for bonding
11. Bonding assessment
12. Legalisation of adoption at the family court
For Nigerians living abroad, below is the Adoption Procedure for them
1. Submission of application letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Block 18, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja
2. Submission of all required documents by prospective adopters or through Foundation (including home study report and approval from country of domicile by appropriate authorities.
3. Administrative processing by the adoption unit.
4. Payment of NGN 130, 000 administrative fees.
5. Processing of all documents submitted for honourable commissioner’s approval.
6. Collections of approval letter by the prospective adopters/foundation.
7. Notification of arrival of prospective adopters after a successful matching of child/children at the registered orphanages.
8. Invitation of prospective adopters with their updated documents through the Foundation for the release of child/children.
9. Conducting Bonding assessment
10. Interview with director of social welfare
11. Legalisation of adoption at the family court
For submission of application letter, send an email to mysdadoption@gmail.com
For adoption guidelines and process in Lagos state, kindly visit the website http://www.mysd.lg.gov.ng
For further enquiries, contact:
Lagos state ministry of youth and social development
Block 18, The Secretariat Alausa Ikeja
Tel: 08096777389, 07083332502
Remember, giving birth to a child is not the only means of having or owning a child. Adoption is also a viable and legal means, which should be made readily available and explored as an option for having a child.
