Smart DNA, a prominent DNA testing center situated in Lagos, Nigeria, has unveiled a comprehensive analysis of DNA tests conducted between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. DNA, short for Deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic material carrying crucial information for an organism’s development and functioning.
Genetic testing, commonly known as a DNA test, can identify mutations in genes, chromosomes, or proteins, providing insight into an individual’s ancestral heritage.
A DNA relationship test employs genetic profiles to determine if one person is the biological parent of another. Smart DNA’s report, based on thousands of cases, offers unprecedented insights into DNA testing trends across Nigeria.
Released on Tuesday, the report revealed startling findings about the motives behind DNA testing, the demographics of those tested, and the test outcomes. Remarkably, 73.88% of tests yielded positive results, confirming the tested men as biological fathers, while 26.12% received negative results, indicating otherwise.
The report also analyzed the geographical distribution of tests. Lagos led with 82.89% of all tests, followed by Oyo (3.29%), Ogun (3.07%), FCT (2.63%), and Rivers (2.41%). The heavy concentration in Lagos, particularly on the Mainland (68.14%) versus the Island (31.86%), could be attributed to Smart DNA’s office location, residents’ purchasing power, and the state’s high population density.
The majority of tests (89.10%) were conducted for “Peace of Mind” purposes, followed by “Immigration” (8.97%) and “Legal” (0.64%). This suggests that individuals primarily seek DNA testing for personal reasons, rather than for legal or immigration purposes.
Notably, 86.44% of initial contacts were initiated by men, compared to 13.56% by women, indicating that men are more likely to have doubts about paternity or other relationships and take the initiative to seek testing.
Ethnically, the Yoruba group comprised the highest percentage of tests (61.23%), followed by Igbo (19.07%), “Others” (12.08%), and Edo (6.78%), likely reflecting the ethnic distribution in Lagos and its surroundings.
Regarding the sex of the child, more tests were conducted on male children (56.62%) compared to female children (43.38%), hinting at a possible cultural preference for confirming the paternity of male offspring.
In terms of age range, most tests were performed on children aged 0-5 years (58.02%), followed by the 6-12 age group (25.95%), indicating that paternity tests are typically conducted when children are younger.
The Smart DNA findings also revealed that men opting for these DNA tests were primarily between the ages of 31-40 years (40%) and 41-50 years (23%), suggesting that this demographic likely has young children and the financial means to afford testing.
Smart DNA officials affirmed their commitment to providing fully accredited DNA testing services in accordance with international standards. They emphasized that this report aims to shed light on current trends in relationship DNA testing in Nigeria, contributing to a better understanding of this crucial aspect of society.
