2025 DNA report shows 25% of Nigerian men not biological fathers

A new report from Smart DNA, Nigeria’s leading DNA testing centre, has revealed that one in every four Nigerian men who undergo paternity testing is not the biological father of the child in question.

The findings are contained in the company’s 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, which covers July 2024 to June 2025. While the figure marks a slight drop from 27% in 2024 to 25% in 2025, experts say the persistently high rate of paternity exclusion shows a growing but largely unspoken social crisis in Nigeria.

“These findings are not just about science; they speak volumes about trust, relationships, and the economic and emotional realities of Nigerian families today,” said Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA Nigeria.

Perhaps the most striking revelation from the report is the extreme rejection rate among firstborn children. According to the data, 64% of firstborn sons tested were found not to be biologically related to their presumed fathers, making them the most likely to return negative results. Firstborn daughters also showed above-average exclusion rates, though not as high as sons.

Analysts suggest that these patterns may be linked to early romantic relationships, pre-marital pregnancies, or social strategies around partner selection. The trend also raises sensitive questions about how paternity is initially assumed and socially accepted in Nigeria, particularly in a culture where male lineage is strongly tied to legacy, inheritance, and the continuity of family names.

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