ADOPTION WITHOUT TEARS: APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN NIGERIA AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Abstract

The successes of most African marriages are largely predicated on child bearing. The discovery of childlessness in marriage often comes with psychological and physical torture, sometimes resulting in self-blame and seeking possible options, one of which is adoption. Adoption is a unique mode of establishing a family relationship between a person and a child of a known or unknown parentage with a view to making such a child legally that of the adopting parent. Adoption allows persons to legally assume the role of parenthood over a child that is not biologically borne by them. The reason for which a person may wish to adopt could range from infertility to need to get a particular sex or provide companionship for an only child, to stabilize a childless marriage, or to provide care for children who have been abandoned or rejected, or to "˜replace' a dead child. Adoption is not just about picking any child of one's choice and claiming of ownership. This paper focuses on an appraisal of the necessary procedures to comply with when adopting a child, whether to reside within or outside Nigerian jurisdiction. The doctrinal method of research such as textbooks, journal articles, case laws, internet materials etc. were used to carry out this research. Findings revealed that there are lots of legal gymnastics or hurdles involved which may be difficult to successfully navigate without professional help including the challenge of taking the child outside Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that there should be established legal frameworks that promote comprehensive child adoption laws that harmonize internal and international instruments, to back implementation of these laws with needed enforcement procedure.