One in each 4 males examined will not be the organic father of the kid in query.
Paternity fraud is a scenario the place a lady misleads or deceives a person into believing and accepting that he’s the organic father of a kid.
Based on the 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report by Good DNA, Nigeria’s paternity exclusion fee at present stands at 25 per cent. What this implies is that out of each 4 males who go for a DNA take a look at to substantiate if a baby is theirs, 1 man finds out he’s not the organic father.
The report additionally confirmed that firstborn youngsters are essentially the most affected, with firstborn sons accounting for 64 per cent of unfavorable outcomes. Whereas the findings have sparked intense public debate, consultants warning that the statistics don’t essentially mirror the complete Nigerian inhabitants.
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In Nigeria, household is the cornerstone of society, and fatherhood carries profound cultural, financial and emotional weight. Historically, paternal lineage dictates inheritance, tribal affiliations and social standing.
Nonetheless, rising cases of paternity fraud fueled by societal pressures, infidelity and lack of accountability have eroded belief in these age-old constructions.
Paternity fraud has critical emotional, social, and monetary penalties in a society the place fatherhood carries deep cultural significance, dictating inheritance, tribal identification, and social standing. But, in contrast to some international locations comparable to South Africa, Nigeria has no legal guidelines penalising paternity fraud.
Key Findings from the 2025 Good DNA Report
The 2025 report (protecting July 2024 – June 2025) provided additional insights:
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Paternity exclusion fee: 24–25%, exhibiting a slight decline from 2024.
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Firstborn sons are disproportionately affected.
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Older males (41+) initiated practically half of all exams.
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Extra male youngsters have been examined than feminine youngsters.
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Youngsters aged 0–5 made up over half of all exams.
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Ethnic patterns: Yoruba and Igbo shoppers dominated, with minimal Hausa participation.
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Causes for testing: Peace of thoughts (83.7%) was the principle driver. Immigration-related testing is rising, and authorized or court-ordered exams stay a small fraction.
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The Science of DNA Testing
Based on Dede Gilbert, a genetic and molecular skilled with Simple Genetics (partnering with Alpha Bio Labs within the UK and Common Forensics within the US), DNA testing analyses all 23 pairs of chromosomes in an individual.
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22 pairs are autosomes, whereas the final pair determines gender.
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For paternity exams, samples are taken from the alleged father and baby. If the daddy is unavailable, a male sibling can typically be examined.
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Different exams embrace maternity testing and avuncular testing (to ascertain sibling or uncle relationships).
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Gilbert defined that in testing, laboratories calculate the mixed paternity index to make sure accuracy. Outcomes are reported as a likelihood of paternity, typically as excessive as 99.9999%, that means the take a look at is that assured the person is the organic father.
The Testing Course of
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Session: Focus on targets (authorized vs. private)
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Pattern Assortment: Cheek swabs or blood attracts. Authorized exams require supervised assortment
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Evaluation: 16–24 genetic markers in contrast
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Outcomes: Delivered in 10–14 days through encrypted platforms.
Price
DNA testing in Nigeria is dear, with prices relying on the supplier and take a look at kind:
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N290,000 (with a four-week turnaround, in response to Surge Healthcare).
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N400,000 – N1 million (relying on the laboratory, in response to Simple Genetics).
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N310,000 for personal exams to N2.8 million for non-invasive prenatal tests (as reported by impartial researchers).
Conventional Strategies of Figuring out Paternity in Nigeria
Earlier than the rise of scientific DNA testing, many Nigerian communities relied on cultural practices to settle questions of paternity. These strategies, which different throughout ethnic teams, have been rooted in ritual, oaths, and non secular beliefs.
Yoruba Customs (Ìfàlọmọ / Orò Ìdílé)
Among the many Yoruba, family-specific rites have been central to confirming lineage and making certain marital constancy. A standard observe was for a spouse to swear an oath earlier than the Ogun shrine, pledging faithfulness to her husband. In Yoruba customary regulation, a husband’s acknowledgement of being pregnant and the formal naming of a kid have been additionally thought-about ample to ascertain paternity.
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Ijaw Customs
In some Ijaw communities, a extra excessive ritual was carried out. A new child could be positioned on a river: if the kid floated or was carried safely by the water, the kid was accepted as respectable. If the kid sank or drowned, it was taken as an indication of illegitimacy.
Whereas these practices mirrored deep cultural values about ancestry and constancy, they have been typically harmful and unreliable. At the moment, they’ve largely given solution to fashionable DNA exams, which at the moment are broadly used not just for resolving household disputes but additionally for immigration and authorized functions.
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