The 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, has revealed that DNA testing in Nigeria surged to 13.1 percent, while this exposes a dramatic gender imbalance, with men initiating nearly nine out of 10 paternity tests while women account for just 11.8 percent.
Penpushing reports that the country’s leading DNA testing centre, Smart DNA Nigeria, made the disclosure, explaining that the study, analysing data from July 2024 to June 2025, also revealed startling insights into Nigeria’s family dynamics, including persistent paternity uncertainty and the profound impact of emigration on DNA testing demand.
The statement made available to journalists by the centre revealed that paternity exclusion rate remains at 25 per cent as immigration testing surged, noting that one in four paternity tests still negative.
Penpushing further reports that the centre said the 2025 data show 25 per cent of paternity tests returned negative results, a slight decrease from 27 per cent in 2024 but emphasised the worrying trend where 1 in 4 presumed fathers is not the biological parent.
The report pointed out that firstborn children are significantly more likely to have negative paternity test results compared to non-firstborn children while firstborn sons showed the highest discrepancy (64 per cent).
Penpushing also reports that the testing centre, Smart DNA Nigeria added that firstborn daughters were also more likely to be biologically unrelated to their presumed fathers compared to later-born children.
“Immigration testing explodes amid “Japa” Wave Immigration-related DNA testing surged to 13.1 per cent of all tests, reflecting Nigeria’s unprecedented emigration trend’, the centre stated.
“The increase indicates growing numbers of dual-citizenship families processing documentation for children’s relocation abroad, with many parents securing foreign documentation as “second passport” insurance. This consistent pattern raises serious questions about family structures, trust, and social arrangements in urban Nigeria’, it added.
Penpushing reports that the report exposes a dramatic gender imbalance, with men initiating nearly nine out of 10 paternity tests while women account for just 11.8 per cent, stressing that this disparity underscores deep-seated gender roles where men predominantly seek paternity confirmation, often after years of accumulated doubts.
The expert analysis, showed that these findings are not just about science; they tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today.
Penpushing further reports that Operations Manager at Smart DNA, Elizabeth Digia, said the report calls for urgent action on multiple fronts such as Legal Reform, Healthcare Integration and Educational Outreach.
The Manager added that Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, unlike South Africa, leaving men with little legal recourse when discovering non-paternity after years of financial responsibility.
Penpushing also reports that Digia was of the views that public health campaigns should normalise paternity discussions and integrate DNA testing into pre-marital and family health programmes.
“Misconceptions persist, including beliefs that DNA testing is only for wealthy families or that physical resemblance guarantees paternity. Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of the life-changing information our clients receive’, she said
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