Lagos, Nigeria – E be like say wahala don land, as Smart DNA Nigeria release their 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report wey show say DNA testing don increase by 13.1 percent this year. Dis report, wey analyze data wey dem gather from July 2024 to June 2025, shine light on Nigeria family palaver wey dey happen, especially paternity uncertainty dey plenty. Abeg, e no sweet!
Di report talk say paternity exclusion rate still dey 25 percent, meaning say one out of four men wey Test say dem dey related to di pikin no be di biological papa. This one na small decrease from 27 percent wey dem notice last year, but e dey show say dis trend wey dey worry us no dey go anywhere soon.
One wahala wey dey una stand say firstborn children, especially firstborn boys, dey more likely to discover say their supposed papa no be their real papa. The report talk say 64 percent of firstborn boys fail test, while girls dey follow for the matter too, but no be as plenty as dem boys. E clear say dem get something wey no balance for this family matter! (One small tip: if you want know di truth, abeg, do am sharp sharp!)
Di report no end for only paternity wahala o, e still talk about di “Japa” wave wey cause immigration-related DNA testing to rise to 13.1 percent. Dis one mean say plenty families dey prepare to relocate abroad, and dem dey use DNA tests to secure papers for dem children. Who no wan settle well for obodo oyinbo? E be like say na biological passport wey people dey carry come wahala no be small!
Men dey hold di key for dis paternity inquiry matter o, as 88.2 percent of paternity tests na men dey initiate. Dem dey suspect say na di pressure and financial responsibility wey dey make dem want clear di doubt. Old men wey dey around 41 years and above dey run di show, initiating 45.5% of di tests. You fit imagine, na dem plenty of us wey don mature and ready to face di truth!
And wey una know, di majority of di children wey dem dey test don dey under five years old. E good say dem no wan waste time! (Na better father you go be if you sabi di truth from early.)
Di report still show say Lagos dey lead di charge for di testing, wey get 69 percent of di samples dem. Lekki don join di race well, as dem dey top testing locations alongside Ajah, Ikorodu, and Yaba. No be small!
Pehaps di most shocking finding na say women only account for 11.8 percent of di paternity test initiations. Na wah! Dis level of gender imbalance dey show how society still dey favor men for testing matter. No be say women no dey suspect am, but e be like say dem dey hold back. If na my pikin, as a mama, I go wanna want to know di truth!
Di report call for urgent reform wey go fit balance di gender matter. Elizabeth Digia, di Operations Manager for Smart DNA, don talk say dem need public health campaigns to normalize paternity discussions and integrate DNA testing into pre-marital education. E good make una know say no be only rich families dey go for DNA tests o!
At di end of di day, dis report carry heavier message and show say we need to face di trust and social issues wey dey affect our families. Na time to start di conversation wey fit change lives. Behind every statistic dey human story of doubt, betrayal, or relief. Make we fit tackle di matter together!
