Lagos State opened at the end of 2016 for international adoption by Americans. Both Nigerian-Americans and American families that do not have ancestry from Nigeria can adopt from Lagos State. Previously only Nigerians that had dual citizenship living in the US could adopt internationally from Lagos State, which remains the case for all of the other Nigerian States.
A Family in Bloom Adoption is privileged to be one of a select few agencies approved and permitted by contractual agreement to work with American families for international adoption from Lagos State. Morgan Hill Children Foundation (MOHIC), an established Nigerian non-profit dedicated to humanitarian and child advocacy work, has been designated by the Lagos Ministry of Social Welfare to process and administer all international adoptions. This is for non-Nigerian Americans and Nigerians alike, including kinship adoptions. Morgan Hill Children Foundation can also handle international adoptions for Nigerian-American dual citizens from Cross River State. The US State Department is cognizant and supportive of the involvement of MOHIC for international adoptions from these Nigerian states.
The involvement of MOHIC should result in a more secure, legitimate and well- documented adoption process in a non-Hague Convention adoption country. Children are available from the age range 0 to 12 years, primarily in good health, but also some with special needs. The children come from licensed children’s homes.
A Family in Bloom Adoption will offer a full-service program in close partnership with MOHIC, who will match families with children or alternately have children available for qualified families registered with our agency. Legal work, in country support, and translation services if needed will be provided to families during their stay abroad directly by MOHIC’s qualified staff members.
A Family in Bloom Adoption can represent adoptive families living anywhere in the United States. The vast majority of our international adoptive families are currently residing outside of our home base of Colorado. Our agency has formal partnerships with many agencies throughout the country in order to provide the necessary services to our out-of-state adoptive families.
The Lagos State, Nigeria Program is a wonderful opportunity for families to adopt from a country with children in need of a loving, permanent home. The regulation in Lagos State is that adoptive families must register for one year on the Ministry of Social Welfare’s list before any adoption can be finalized. Families usually will have two trips to Nigeria: The first visit would involve at least six weeks for bonding with the child, culminating with the adoption finalization. The second would occur after permission is given by the US government for an exit interview, which usually leads to a child’s visa issuance. Children adopted from Nigeria will enter as full citizens of the United States.
— Diana, Princess of Wales
Please contact us to learn more about our international adoption services.