How to Adopt a Child in Lagos State

Who Can Adopt in Lagos State

• You must be at least 25 years old, and at least 21 years older than the child you want to adopt.
• Married couples: it is expected that you have been married for at least 2 years. This is treated as a standard requirement, not an optional preference.
• Single people — including those who are unmarried or widowed — can adopt too, though extra conditions may apply.

The 10-Step Process

1. Submit your application. Write to the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Alausa, Ikeja, stating your wish to adopt. If you are a couple, both of you must sign the letter.
2. Interview. You will meet with an officer at the Ministry, who will give you a registration form and a list of what's required.
3. Pay the administrative fee. This is paid directly into the Ministry's designated account, after your application and forms are submitted. The exact fee changes over time — contact the Ministry directly for the current amount.
4. Home visit. A social worker will visit your home on an agreed date, to check that it's a safe place for a child. This is a normal part of adoption everywhere in the world, not just Nigeria.
5. Medical examination. You will be asked to complete a full physical and mental health check at a Lagos State general hospital.

1. Adoption seminar/panel. This is a chance to learn more and ask questions — think of it as pre-adoption counselling. You will also answer a few questions from the panel before moving forward.
2. Provisional approval letter. Once the Ministry is satisfied, you'll receive a letter of provisional approval, along with a list of licensed orphanages in Lagos State. You can take this letter to any of them to be matched with a child.
3. Matching & bonding. Once a child is matched to you and bonding goes well, the orphanage works with the Ministry and the family court to place the child with you.
4. Placement (the fostering period). The child comes to live with you under supervision, usually for around three months. A social worker checks in during this time.
5. Final court hearing. After the fostering period, the case goes before the court to finalise — and legally seal — the adoption.

Documents You Will Need

• Birth certificate(s) of the adopter(s)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Medical certificate of fitness from a Lagos State general hospital
• Proof of employment: a copy of your ID card, a "To Whom It May Concern" letter from your employer, 6 months of recent payslips, and 6 months of bank statements
• 4 recent colour passport photographs (each applicant)
• Tax clearance certificate for the past 3 years — for couples, each spouse needs their own tax clearance certificate; one is not enough for both
• Payment of the application/administrative fee, paid into the Ministry's designated account

A Note Before You Begin

This process asks a lot of you on paper — but it exists because every child deserves a home that has been properly checked, not just promised. Many families who felt overwhelmed by this list got through it one step at a time, with support. You can too.