Cradle of Hope began offering adoption services for children of Lagos, Nigeria in 2025. There are thousands of orphaned children in over 70 registered orphanages in Lagos. Unlike other states within Nigeria, Lagos will allow non-Nigerians to adopt.
Cradle of Hope partners with Morgan Hill Children’s Foundation, a licensed, non-governmental organization (NGO) in Lagos, to assist in adoption services. The Lagos Ministry of Youth and Social Development has designated Morgan Hill as the sole provider of international adoption services from Lagos. While the Ministry maintains overall authority over the process, Morgan Hill has been authorized to identify children needing permanency, conduct background reports on children, secure necessary consents, and to liaise with the Magistrate’s Court. In compliance with U.S. federal regulations, Morgan Hill is Cradle of Hope’s “Foreign Supervised Provider.” No international adoptions can be completed without the assistance of Morgan Hill.
Available Children
There are children 2-15 years old available in Lagos. Children who are 2-5 years old often have some minor identified special needs and children that are 5+ years old are reported to be healthy. There are also children of all ages available who have significant identified special needs. The wait time will be the longest for healthy children under the age of 5 years old. Children living in poverty and raised in institutional care often have both developmental and emotional needs. Sibling groups are also available
for adoption.
Length of Process
Depending on the type of child you wish to adopt (age, special needs) the process can take anywhere from 2 to 2 ½ years.
Travel Requirements
Families are required to take two separate trips to Lagos. The first trip is a minimum of 10-12 weeks for the bonding and court processes. After the adoption is finalized in the court, you will return to the U.S. and file the I-600 visa application with USCIS. After the I-600 application is submitted, the Embassy in Lagos will conduct an investigation (called the I-604 investigation), which can take several months. There is little communication from the Embassy about your case during this time. Once the case is approved, you will receive an email from USCIS and the US embassy in Lagos will schedule the visa interview. You will return to Lagos for the second trip at that time, spending about 2-3 weeks in country. Both parents must be present for the first trip. Only one parent must travel for the second visit. The in-country stay gives you time to visit and live with your child daily and to begin the bonding process. It is also a great time to learn more about the culture and history of Nigeria.
Eligibility Criteria
Married couples over 25 years and singles over age 35 old may adopt from Lagos. Adoptive parents must be at least 25 years older than the child they wish to adopt. Single women will not be permitted to adopt a child of a different gender or a child over the age of 5. Nigeria does not allow adoptive parents who have a diagnosed a mental health condition to adopt including mild anxiety and depression. Before applying, please consult with Cradle of Hope regarding any sensitive issues that may apply to you, such as a divorce, a mental health issue or a criminal history.