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About one in four paternity tests conducted by Smart DNA Nigeria returned negative results in its 2025/2026 reporting period, its latest annual DNA Testing Report has revealed.

The company, in a statement on Sunday, August 22, 2026 in Lagos, said the report confirmed that 23.6 per cent of recorded paternity test outcomes were negative, meaning the tested man was not the biological father.

According to the report, the negative paternity outcome declined marginally from 24.0 per cent in the preceding year and 26.1 per cent in 2023.

The report, however, cautioned against interpreting the figure as evidence that one in four Nigerian children is not biologically related to the man regarded as the father.

It stressed that its clients were people who had already developed sufficient doubts or reasons to seek DNA testing.

The report also revealed that 87 per cent of DNA tests conducted were ‘Peace of Mind tests’, representing private, self-initiated tests undertaken outside legal, immigration or court proceedings.

It said the proportion increased from 83.7 per cent in the preceding reporting period, indicating that personal concerns and the desire for certainty largely drove DNA testing in Nigeria.

Immigration-related tests accounted for 9.7 per cent, legal tests 1.9 per cent, avuncular tests one per cent, while prenatal testing represented 0.4 per cent of recorded cases.

The report further showed that older men accounted for the majority of male clients seeking DNA tests, with men aged 41 years and above representing 48 per cent of age-classified male records.

Men aged between 31 and 40 accounted for another 35.8 per cent, meaning that men above 30 constituted 83.8 per cent of the male testing population.

On the other hand, 59.5 per cent of tested individuals were children aged five years and below, a figure that remained virtually unchanged from the previous reporting period.

The company said the concentration of testing among younger children suggested that many families preferred to resolve questions surrounding biological relationships early, although the data could not establish the reasons behind the trend.

Geographically, Lagos accounted for 75.1 per cent of all classified cases, rising from 69 per cent in the preceding period.

Lekki recorded the highest number of named locations in Lagos, followed by Ajah, Ikorodu, Yaba and Ikeja, while Lagos Mainland accounted for 61.6 per cent of Lagos cases with specific location classifications.

Outside Lagos, Ogun recorded the highest testing activity, followed by Delta, Oyo, Rivers, Enugu, Edo, Abuja, Imo and Kwara.

The report said testing activity outside Lagos increased during the period, suggesting that awareness and demand for DNA testing were gradually spreading across other parts of the country.

It further revealed that men initiated 78.6 per cent of recorded first contacts with the company, compared with 15.2 per cent by women.

The ethnic distribution of clients was led by Yoruba at 52.6 per cent, followed by Igbo at 29.1 per cent, Edo at 5.8 per cent and a combined 5.4 per cent for Delta, Ijaw, Isoko, Urhobo and Itsekiri groups.

The Hausa accounted for one per cent.

Smart DNA said the figures reflected its geographical and client base rather than differences in paternity behaviour among ethnic groups.

The company also warned that its findings should not be generalised to the entire Nigerian population, stressing that its clients were not a random sample of Nigerian families.

It said the 23.6 per cent negative result represented its testing population, a group in which doubts about biological relationships already existed and therefore could not be used to estimate the prevalence of non-paternity across Nigeria.

The report maintained that while DNA testing could provide highly accurate answers to biological questions, it could not independently explain the social, cultural, economic or relationship circumstances that led families to seek such tests.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled a new system allowing candidates to upload their O’Level results from the comfort of their homes, while the Board verifies the results directly with the relevant examination bodies.

Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, who announced this in a statement on Monday, said the initiative, which begins with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is aimed at making the process of O’Level result verification and upload easier, faster, safer and more convenient for candidates.

According to him, under the new arrangement, candidates would no longer need to visit Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres solely for the purpose of uploading their O’Level results, noting that JAMB would verify their results directly against records held by the issuing examination bodies before the results are uploaded to their profiles.

Benjamin said the initiative was part of the Board’s renewed commitment to deploying technology to improve service delivery and reduce unnecessary visits to CBT centres, queues and manual processes.

He added that the new system would also address challenges associated with manual O’Level result uploads, including misplaced or mixed-up paper results, submission of unverified or fraudulent results, as well as errors in the manual entry of subjects and grades.

The Board explained that the integration of its e-Facility platform with examination bodies would enable candidates’ results to be verified directly against the records of the issuing bodies before being downloaded into their JAMB profiles.

The JAMB spokesperson explained that to use the service, candidates are required to first obtain a Result Verification Code, adding that they are to visit buyresultsverificationcode.ng, enter their National Identification Number (NIN) and verify it, after which they will select the number of sittings and the relevant examination body or bodies.

“Candidates will then provide their email address and GSM number, make payment through the available payment options and enter their examination details, including examination number, series and year.

“After successful verification, candidates will obtain a Verification Code. The second stage involves sending ‘VERIFY’ followed by the Verification Code to 55019 or 66019.

“The result will then be uploaded and the candidate will receive a notification. Candidates with two sittings will subsequently be directed to their profiles on JAMB’s e-Facility platform, where they will select 2026 UTME O’Level Upload.

“They will enter their Verification Code, after which their two verified results will be displayed. Candidates are required to select a minimum of five and a maximum of nine subjects, ensuring that no subject is selected more than once, before clicking ‘Apply the O’Level Results’ to complete the process,” the Board stated.

Benjamin further stated that the verification service would provide candidates with a convenient alternative, particularly during periods of high patronage and network challenges at CBT centres.

According to him, the initiative reflects the commitment of the Board’s sixth Registrar, Prof Segun Aina, to building a more customer-oriented and technology-driven service delivery system.

He added that the Board would continue to deploy technology and collaborate with relevant examination and government agencies to make its services simpler, safer and more accessible to candidates. (Nigerian Tribune)

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The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has felicitated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and across the world on the occasion of Eid el Maulud, the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a congratulatory message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Senator Akpabio described the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet as a timeless example of compassion, tolerance, humility, and service to humanity.

“As we commemorate this sacred day, I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to reflect on the virtues of the Prophet and to offer special prayers for peace, unity, and progress in our dear country, Nigeria,” the President of the Senate said.

He noted that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity, and called on all citizens to embrace love, forgiveness, and mutual respect regardless of faith or ethnicity.

“In these times, our nation needs the prayers of all religious leaders and faithful. Let us use this period to pray for our leaders, for security, economic prosperity, and for the unity that binds us together as one people under God,” he added.

Senator Akpabio reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Senate under his leadership to promote legislation and policies that protect religious freedom, foster national cohesion, and improve the welfare of all Nigerians.

He felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and Vice President Kashim Shettima, and wished the Muslim community a peaceful and joyous Eid el Maulud celebration.